Coronavirus: Honduras turns to China as rich nations hoard vaccines
- In a diplomatic shift, the long-time ally of Taiwan could open a commercial office in China in a bid to acquire supplies
- The Central American nation does not have formal relations with Beijing, but its president said his government would do what was necessary for its people
Honduras does not have formal relations with China and is one of a group of Latin American nations with strong diplomatic ties to Taiwan, which Beijing considers part of its territory.
Hernandez, frustrated rich countries have “hoarded” global vaccine supplies, said poorer countries desperately need vaccines and his government was willing to do whatever was necessary to help its people during a global pandemic.
If necessary, his government would open a trade office in China “because it is in the best interest of the Honduran people,” he said in a televised speech on Tuesday.
In order to buy Chinese vaccines, Hernandez said he would do as the Chinese had suggested and look for a “diplomatic bridge”.
He suggested Mexico, Chile, Argentina or El Salvador could help his nation acquire Chinese vaccines, and had also asked Taiwan to press the United States to help.
Why it’s in rich countries’ own interests to stop hoarding vaccines
“As we have a relationship with Taiwan, we have asked Taiwan to help us talk with people in Washington because we have been very close allies with the United States. And they have a huge number of vaccines that are going to expire,” Hernandez said.
The country of nearly 10 million people has so far received 248,600 doses. On top of the 6,000 from Israel, it received 237,600 AstraZeneca jabs through the global Covax mechanism, and 6,000 of 4.2 million doses bought from Russia.
Honduras has registered more than 220,000 coronavirus infections and 5,665 deaths.
A host of Latin American nations are receiving Chinese vaccines, although several countries that have built ties with Taipei rather than Beijing, such as Honduras and Guatemala, are not in line to receive them.
Both China and Russia, as well as the United States, have sought to deepen ties through providing vaccines in Latin America, part of “vaccine diplomacy” efforts to further their countries’ geopolitical clout in the region.
Beijing has been gradually whittling away at Taiwan’s diplomatic allies - now down to just 15 countries - which has alarmed Washington, nervous about an increased Chinese presence in Latin America and the Pacific where those allies are concentrated.
Additional reporting by Agence France-Presse
