End to Taiwan ties nears as Honduras foreign minister goes to China
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[March 23, 2023]
By Ben Blanchard and Gustavo Palencia
TAIPEI/TEGUCIGALPA (Reuters) -The Honduran foreign minister is
travelling to China to "promote" the establishment of diplomatic ties,
an official said, signalling the end is most likely near for the
country's decades-long relations with Taiwan.
At stake is China's growing footprint in Central America, once a
steadfast base for Taiwan and where the United States is worried about
Beijing's expanding influence in its backyard.
Honduran President Xiomara Castro tweeted last week her government would
seek to open relations with China.
"Foreign Minister Eduardo Enrique Reina on instructions from President
Xiomara Castro travelled to China on Wednesday to promote efforts for
the establishment of diplomatic relations," presidential press secretary
Ivis Alvarado said.
China's Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said Beijing welcomed the
Honduran government's positive attitude towards building relations, and
was willing to develop them "on the basis of equality and mutual
respect".
![](http://archives.lincolndailynews.com/2023/Mar/23/images/ads/current/firststatemortgage_sda_020223.png)
Taiwan's Foreign Ministry said it had summoned in the Honduran
ambassador to express its "strong dissatisfaction" at the trip which
"seriously harmed the feelings of our government and people".
A source with direct knowledge of the situation told Reuters Reina and
his delegation left for Beijing from Panama, accompanied by Chinese
officials. The source declined to be named because of the sensitivity of
the situation.
A senior Taipei-based diplomatic source told Reuters that Reina going to
China meant an announcement on forging relations was probably near.
![](http://archives.lincolndailynews.com/2023/Mar/23/images/ads/current/hartsburggrain_sda_SFARM_2023.png)
"The die is cast," the diplomat said, speaking on condition of anonymity
as they were not authorised to speak to the media.
The move will leave Taiwan with diplomatic relations with only 13
countries.
Honduras denied on Wednesday it had demanded $2.5 billion in aid from
Taiwan before its announcement to seek to open relations with China,
instead saying the country had repeatedly asked Taiwan to buy Honduran
public debt.
Chinese Foreign Ministry's Wang called remarks about Honduras making the
demand prior to its China announcement "absolutely preposterous and
groundless".
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People walk past the Diplomatic Quarter,
which houses the Honduras embassy among others, in Taipei, Taiwan
March 23, 2023. REUTERS/Carlos Garcia Rawlins
![](http://archives.lincolndailynews.com/2017/Jul/22/images/ads/current/rohlfs_lda_072017.png)
Speaking on Thursday to reporters at parliament, Taiwan Foreign
Minister Joseph Wu said the situation with Honduras was "not very
good".
"The other side demanded a high price," he added, though he did not
directly confirm the $2.5 billion number, saying only that "the
facts will out".
China, which views Taiwan as its own territory with no right to
state-to-state ties, has involved itself in the issue, Wu said,
without giving details.
"The marks of Chinese involvement are very obvious," he said.
But Taiwan will not engage in dollar diplomacy with China, Wu added.
The Honduras crisis erupted ahead of next week's visit by Taiwan
President Tsai Ing-wen to Guatemala and Belize, which remain allies.
Tsai is stopping in New York on the way there and Los Angeles on the
way back, where she is expected to meet U.S. House Speaker Kevin
McCarthy. Wu, asked to confirm that meeting, said it was still being
arranged.
"Beijing originally planned to act in the second half of the year,
but because of President Tsai's visit, it brought its plans
forward," said the source with direct knowledge of the situation,
referring to getting Honduras to switch sides.
Reina said last week Honduras' decision was partly because the
Central American country was "up to its neck" in financial
challenges and debt - including $600 million it owes Taiwan.
He said on Wednesday his country had repeatedly requested Taiwan to
buy Honduran public debt and that the $2.5 billion figure was "not a
donation," but rather "a negotiated refinancing mechanism".
Wu, answering a lawmaker's question, said Honduras' demands were
beyond what Taiwan could do and that it was not just Taiwan who was
owed money.
"We have said to them previously the debt they owe us can be
readjusted," Wu said.
(Reporting by Ben Blanchard and Gustavo Palencia; Additional
reporting by Yimou Lee in Taipei and Laurie Chen in Beijing; Editing
by Stephen Coates, Gerry Doyle and Tomasz Janowski)
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