Honduras looks to formal ties with Beijing, a move set to further isolate Taiwan
- Honduran President Xiomara Castro tells the country’s foreign minister to begin the process of establishing formal relations with mainland China
- Taiwan’s foreign ministry says it ‘expressed grave concern’ to the Honduran government about the move
The move was “a sign of my determination to comply with the government plan and expand borders freely”, she said in a statement on Twitter on Tuesday.
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Beijing welcomes formal ties with Honduras, Taipei expresses ‘grave concern’
Taiwan’s foreign ministry on Wednesday said it had “expressed grave concern” to the Honduran government about the move and asked the country not to fall into Beijing’s trap.
“We have time and again told Honduras Taiwan is a true and reliable partner of its allies, and our government will assist Honduras to exercise its national development projects in every possible way within our capability,” it said.
“China’s sole purpose of developing ties with Honduras is to squeeze our international space. In its cooperation with Honduras, it has no true intention to promote the well-being of the general public in Honduras,” Taiwan’s foreign ministry said, adding that Honduras should refrain from making any decision that would hurt long-time relations with Taiwan.
Taiwan also summoned the Honduran ambassador to Taiwan, Harold Burgos, for an explanation.