Guatemala to keep Taipei ties while seeking better Beijing relations: next leader says

The Central American country’s president-elect reaffirmed on a visit to Washington that relationship with Taiwan will continue

Bernardo Arévalo said it is also in Guatemala’s interest to explore better trade relations with mainland China

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Guatemala’s president-elect Bernardo Arévalo addresses an event at the Wilson Centre in Washington on Tuesday. Photo: Igor Patrick

Published: 10:59am, 4 Oct 2023Updated: 3:58pm, 4 Oct 2023

Guatemala’s president-elect Bernardo Arévalo on Tuesday reiterated his commitment to maintaining his country’s ties with Taiwan while seeking better trade relations with Beijing.

“It is in our interest to maintain and explore relations with China. We are going to continue the relationship with Taiwan and, at the same time, expand commercial ties with Taiwan,” he told the South China Morning Post in Washington.

Arevalo, who unexpectedly defeated former first lady Sandra Torres in August, made vague comments about his stance on Taiwan and China during his campaign, declining to specify whether he intended to sever diplomatic relations with Taipei.

Guatemala has the largest economy among the 13 countries that still have relations with Taiwan, which Beijing regards as part of its territory.

Most other countries do not recognise the island as an independent state, including the US, but are opposed to a unilateral change in the status quo.

On a local radio show in June, Arevalo emphasised the need for Guatemala to “work on our trade relations and expand them in the case of China,” adding that his country would dictate its own foreign policy.

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