At Mayan ruins, Taiwan’s Tsai Ing-wen and Guatemala’s Alejandro Giammattei reaffirm ties

Tsai Ing-wen and Alejandro Giammattei vowed to maintain strong ties in the face of a diplomatic offensive by China

Tsai’s visit, which will also take her to Belize, comes days after neighbouring Honduras broke diplomatic relations with Taipei to link up with Beijing

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Taiwan’s President Tsai Ing-wen, left, and Guatemala’s President Alejandro Giammattei shake hands at the Tikal archaeological site in Peten, Guatemala on Saturday. Photo: Handout / Guatemalan Presidency / AFP

Published: 6:19am, 2 Apr 2023

Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen and her Guatemalan counterpart, Alejandro Giammattei, on Saturday took in the jungle ruins of a Mayan civilisation citadel where they observed an ancient ritual before a massive stone pyramid known as El Gran Jaguar.

The two shook hands there and vowed to maintain strong ties in the face of a diplomatic offensive by mainland China, which sees Taiwan as part of its territory awaiting reunification.

The assembled dignitaries “witness today the strengthening of the friendship between our nations,” Guatemalan deputy culture minister Jenny Barrios said.

Taiwan’s President Tsai Ing-wen, right centre, watches a performance during a visit to the Mayan site Tikal, in Peten, Guatemala on Saturday. Photo: AP

Tsai’s visit, which will also take her to Belize, comes days after neighbouring Honduras broke diplomatic relations with Taipei to link up with Beijing, which does not allow countries to recognise both China and Taiwan. Honduran President Xiomara Castro is expected to visit China soon.

The two presidents walked to a nearby esplanade and shook hands for a symbolic official photo while a bonfire lit during a Mayan dance ceremony burned. They also witnessed a traditional ball game played in Mayan times.

In a meeting with Giammattei on Friday night, Tsai thanked him for his support last year when China conducted military manoeuvres near the island.

She also highlighted cooperation with Guatemala, one of only 13 diplomatic allies the self-governing island has in the world, mostly small nations in the Caribbean, the Pacific and Latin America.

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