Taiwan assured that Honduras “has illusions” in the face of the Chinese regime’s promises of alleged financial aid

Taiwan assured that Honduras “has illusions” in the face of the Chinese regime’s promises of alleged financial aid. (Reuters)

Taiwan assured this Sunday that the president of Honduras, Xiomara Castro, “has illusions” in the face of the Chinese regime’s promises of alleged financial aid, shortly after the Central American country announced the rupture of relations with Taipei.

“President Castro and her government team have illusions about China and have used the issue of changing recognition as a campaign issue,” said Taiwanese Foreign Minister Joseph Wu.

“China has not ceased in its attempts to attract Honduras with financial incentives,” he added.

Wu confirmed the break in ties between the two countries at a press conference in Taipei and assured that he would close his embassy in Honduras and withdraw his ambassador.

Taiwan called its ambassador in Tegucigalpa for consultations on Thursday, within the framework of the Central American country’s diplomatic turn towards Beijing.

“Honduras ignored more than 80 years of friendship by sending its foreign minister to China, which has seriously damaged the sentiments of our government and our people,” the Taiwanese foreign ministry said in a statement.

Taipei had already warned Honduras “not to fall into the Chinese debt trap” because of its intention to establish relations with the Asian giant due to its economic “needs”.

Taiwan called its ambassador in Tegucigalpa for consultations on Thursday, within the framework of the Central American country’s diplomatic turn towards Beijing. (Reuters)

Latin America has been a crucial scene of disputes between China and Taiwan since they separated in 1949 after the victory of communist forces in the Chinese civil war.

Aligned with Washington, all the Central American countries remained tied to Taiwan for decades.

Costa Rica (in 2007), Panama (2017), El Salvador (2018) and Nicaragua (2021) broke with Taiwan and linked themselves to the Chinese regime, which has spent many years seeking to get Taipei’s diplomatic allies to switch sides.

Following Honduras’ decision, only 13 countries in the world recognize Taiwan, including Paraguay, Haiti and seven other small island nations in the Caribbean and Pacific.

The Minister of the Presidency of Honduras, Rodolfo Pastor, acknowledged that “Taiwan has been an important ally in our country and we are deeply grateful. […]However, we also have at this moment to recognize a global reality, a world stage that marks the rise of China as an economic, commercial and political power.

Wu confirmed the break in ties between the two countries at a press conference in Taipei and assured that he would close his embassy in Honduras and withdraw his ambassador. (Reuters)

During the campaign that led her to the presidency, Xiomara Castro had announced that she would seek to establish relations with China but after taking office, on January 27, 2022, the government caused surprise by stating that relations with Taiwan were continuing.

In an apparent effort to consolidate this small group of allies, Taiwan on Tuesday announced a visit by President Tsai Ing-wen to Guatemala and Belize next week.

The trip will serve to “demonstrate the importance we attach to our allies and further deepen cooperation and development among democratic allies,” Tsai’s office said.

(With information from AFP)

Keep reading:

Due to pressure from the Chinese regime, Honduras broke diplomatic relations with Taiwan China’s advance in America with the support of local governments: they warn that Xi Jinping’s main objective is Argentine lithium Xi Jinping rejects Russian gas and limits Chinese support for the war adventure of Putin in Ukraine

---

Source

---