Taiwan and China Vying for Honduras Diplomatic Relations
Amid the Honduras diplomatic relations switch, Taiwan has thrown over an accusation against China, alleging Beijing of wielding its influence on Honduras’s decision on the matter. ORLANDO SIERRA/AFP via Getty Images

Taiwan has accused China of wielding its influence in Honduras' plan to switch diplomatic allegiance from Taipei to Beijing.

Taiwan's Foreign Minister Joseph Wu also suggested on Thursday that the Central American country had asked for a "high price" to maintain relations with them.

According to Al Jazeera, Wu's statement came a day after Honduras denied that it asked for $2.5 billion in aid from Taiwan before announcing a plan to open diplomatic relations with China.

Wu described the situation with Honduras to reporters as "not very good." He added that the "marks of Chinese involvement are very obvious," but the island will not engage in dollar diplomacy with China.

It was reported on Wednesday that Honduras demanded the funds in aid from Taiwan the day before Honduran President Xiomara Castro announced that her government is eying to "open relations" with China.

China has yet to respond to the accusations against its government, which allegedly wielded its influence in breaking Honduras' diplomatic relations with Taiwan.

Honduras Diplomatic Relations

Xiomara Castro announced almost a week ago that the country aims to expand its foreign engagements, while Taiwan warned Honduras of falling "into China's trap," BBC reported.

China has considered Taiwan part of its territory and prohibited its partners from having relations with the island.

The two nations have been in dispute for years about whether Taiwan is an independent country or is subjected to the governance of China. If Honduras switches allegiance to China, Taiwan would be left with just 13 governments acknowledging them.

China's foreign ministry welcomed Castro's announcement, saying it was willing to create "friendly and cooperative relations" with the Latin American country.

Since 2016, Taiwan has lost eight diplomatic allies. It was a time when Tsai Ing-wen was elected as president. In January 2022, Castro said she hoped to keep ties with Taiwan.

Taiwan Removes Honduras Ambassador

The government of Taiwan has decided to remove its ambassador to Honduras after the Central American country sent its foreign minister to China, which Taiwan took as a signal that it would sever diplomatic ties with them.

Taipei Times reported that Honduras Minister of Foreign Affairs Eduardo Enrique Reina traveled to China to launch "efforts for establishment of diplomatic relations," as instructed by Castro.

In a statement, Taipei's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said its government has decided to "immediately recall the ambassador to Honduras" in expressing their "strong dissatisfaction."

China's Mainland Affairs Council Deputy Minister Jan Jy-Horng noted that he has no comment on reports that China spent $1.46 billion to $2.95 billion to create diplomatic relations.

Wu said the requested amount to them from Honduras was beyond what "Taiwan could do."

Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesman Wang Wenbin commented on the reports of China supporting Honduras to "request extortionate aid" from Taiwan, describing it as "very absurd and out of thin air."

Taiwan's Ing-Wen is coming to Central America next Wednesday.

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Mary Webber

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