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Supporters of Honduran presidential candidate for the Libertad y Refundacion (Libre) party Xiomara Castro de Zelaya take part in the campaign’s closing event, in Tegucigalpa on November 21, 2021. On November 28 Hondurans will elect a president, three vice-presidents and hundreds of other officials. Photo: AFP
ChinaDiplomacy

Taiwan says it will respect Honduras vote outcome despite possibly losing another ally

  • Honduran poll leader Xiomara Castro, of the leftist opposition Libre Party, says she plans to open relations with China if elected
  • Taiwan ‘will remind Honduras to pay attention to China’s flashy and false promises’, says foreign ministry spokeswoman
Taiwan
Reuters
Reuters
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Taiwan will respect the outcome of the Honduras election but the country should be aware of getting sucked in by mainland China’s “false” promises, the foreign ministry said on Tuesday ahead of a vote which could see Taipei lose a steadfast ally to Beijing.
Honduras is one of only 15 countries that maintain formal diplomatic ties with Taiwan, which Beijing claims as its own territory. Taiwan and Honduras have a relationship dating back to 1941, before the Republic of China government fled to Taiwan after losing the Chinese civil war.

But poll leader Xiomara Castro, of the leftist opposition Libre Party, says she plans to open relations with mainland China if elected, giving Beijing another foothold in what is traditionally the US backyard.

10:22

Why has the relationship between the Chinese mainland and Taiwan taken a turn for the worse?

Why has the relationship between the Chinese mainland and Taiwan taken a turn for the worse?

Taiwanese foreign ministry spokeswoman Joanne Ou said that based on democratic principles they would respect the outcome of the election, but would also strengthen communication with all sides in Honduras, including the opposition.

“We will continue to explain, and let them know, that only Taiwan is a partner worthy of trust for Honduras. At the same time we will remind Honduras to pay attention to China’s flashy and false promises.”

China warns Lithuania away from ‘great power’ rivalry in Taiwan office row

Outgoing Honduran president Juan Orlando Hernandez visited Taiwan earlier this month and met Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen, saying he hoped his country would continue its friendship with Taiwan.

Beijing has been gradually whittling away at Taipei’s remaining allies, especially in its former stronghold of Central America, where Taiwan now only has official relations with Honduras, Guatemala, Nicaragua and Belize.

Beijing’s efforts have alarmed and angered Washington, which is concerned about the mainland’s growing international influence.

01:20

Taiwan severs ties with Solomon Islands

Taiwan severs ties with Solomon Islands
Pacific island nations Kiribati and the Solomon Islands were the last countries to cut ties with Taipei in September 2019.

Beijing views Taiwan as one of its provinces with no right to the trappings of a state.

Taiwan says it is an independent country called the Republic of China, its official name, and that Beijing has no right to speak for it.

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