Honduran President Visiting Taiwan: "We Will Stand Together with Taiwan"

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Chun-han] Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernandez publicly expressed support for the Taiwanese government, according to Taiwanese media such as Liberty Times on the 14th (local time).

According to reports, President Hernandez, who was on a state visit to Taiwan, met with Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen on the 13th. President Tsai expressed gratitude for Honduras's support of Taiwan's international participation and said she hopes the Honduran presidential election proceeds smoothly and that both countries continue to support each other internationally in the future.

President Hernandez responded, "I visited to deliver our firm message to the Republic of China (Taiwan)." He added, "True friendship is seen in difficult times among friends," emphasizing, "In a time when tensions are rising in the region, Honduras hopes to stand with its friend (Taiwan)." He also expressed hope that through the conclusion of a Free Trade Agreement (FTA), Taiwan and Honduras would become mutual footholds for advancing into Latin America and Asia.

In Taiwan, it has been interpreted that President Hernandez's visit to Taiwan following his trip to the United States was to provide indirect support for Nasry Asfura, the mayor of Tegucigalpa and the candidate of the ruling National Party, who is running in the presidential election scheduled for later this month. According to Honduran presidential election polls, the opposition candidate, who has declared intentions to establish diplomatic relations with China after winning the election, is leading the ruling party candidate, raising concerns about the possibility of Honduras severing diplomatic ties with Taiwan.

Since the inauguration of pro-independence President Tsai Ing-wen in 2016, Taiwan's position has been significantly reduced due to China's isolation strategy and pressure, with seven countries including El Salvador and the Dominican Republic severing diplomatic ties. Honduras is currently one of the 15 remaining countries maintaining diplomatic relations with Taiwan. If Honduras establishes diplomatic relations with China, it is expected that eight countries in Central America and the Caribbean?Belize, Guatemala, Nicaragua, Haiti, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Saint Lucia?and Paraguay in South America will join the 'diplomatic severance domino effect.'

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.