There could be significant progress in ties between Taiwan and Honduras following the inauguration of Honduran president-elect Nasry Asfura next week, Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍) said today.
Asfura, who before the election signaled that he was open to rebuilding ties with Taiwan, is to be inaugurated on Tuesday next week.
Taiwan has not been invited to attend Asfura’s inauguration, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on Tuesday.
Photo courtesy of Pop radio
Asked during a radio interview this morning if President William Lai (賴清德) would attend the inauguration, Lin said that Asfura would only have the formal authority to manage diplomatic affairs after he officially takes office.
After winning the election, Asfura traveled to Washington, where he met with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Lin said.
The US has expressed strong support for Asfura and Taiwan is also a US ally, he added.
Honduras severed diplomatic ties with Taiwan in 2023, ending an 82-year relationship, and later established ties with China.
However, during Honduras’ presidential election last year, Asfura was one of two candidates who said they intended to restore diplomatic relations with Taiwan if elected.
On the possibility of Taiwan and Honduras resuming diplomatic ties, Lin said that during his campaign, Asfura identified the US, Israel and Taiwan as three key future diplomatic partners.
Asfura has a comprehensive foreign policy vision in which Taiwan plays an indispensable role, acknowledging the many benefits Taiwan brought to Honduras in the past, he said.
Honduras is aware of Taiwan’s Diplomatic Allies Prosperity Project, while the US has also become increasingly active in its policy toward the Western Hemisphere, Lin said.
Given these domestic and international factors, further developments in relations between the two sides could be expected after Tuesday next week, he said.
The two sides severed ties only three years ago and many personal connections and exchanges remain strong, he said.
Taiwan’s relationships with its 12 remaining diplomatic allies are stable, he added.
Asked if Lai plans any overseas visits this year, Lin said that the president visited three South Pacific diplomatic allies a year ago and the ministry would continue to make arrangements as appropriate.
“There are indeed plans,” he said, adding that in addition to state visits, overseas trips might include attendance at festivals or ceremonies, particularly when other foreign dignitaries are present.
Transiting through the US is a natural arrangement given Taiwan’s many diplomatic allies in Latin America, he said.
No decisions have yet been made regarding destinations or timing, he said, adding that any finalized plans would be announced by the Presidential Office.
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