Taiwan’s vice president travels to Honduras to shake up alliance Politics News

Taiwanese Vice President William Lai travels to Honduras to take the oath of office of the next president of the nation. Xiomara Castro, and strengthen the weak relationship with the South American country.

Speaking at Taiwan’s main international airport on Tuesday, Laik said he would bring supplies to help Honduras deal with the COVID-19 pandemic to show support for the Castro government.

“While President Castro is preparing to promote new policies, Taiwan will maintain the spirit of pragmatic diplomacy and mutual support, deepen cooperation with Honduras, and overcome many difficulties for the benefit of both countries,” Laik said.

The trip comes as China has stepped up pressure to reduce Taiwan’s international footprint. Taiwan has had an independent government since 1949, but China considers it an autonomous democracy in its territory.

Castro wins the Free Party he said He would open diplomatic relations with China. Since then his team has done it he backed away from that attitude.

But there was some concern among Taiwanese officials in a move in China last month re-establish relationships With Nicaragua after President Daniel Ortega he announced that he was breaking ties With Taiwan.

Honduras, a neighbor of Nicaragua, is now one of them Only 14 countries To maintain formal diplomatic relations with Taiwan.

Lai, who will meet with Castro on Wednesday, said he would have “relations and exchanges” with allies and “friendly country leaders and deputy leaders.”

The trip will show the world that Taipei is “a trusted friend and Taiwan has the ability to support the international community,” Laik said.

Meanwhile, two days before Castro took office, Honduras was facing its own political crisis.

On Tuesday, the day the new Congress was scheduled to open its first session, rival groups of congressional leaders met for two simultaneous sessions.

One, loyal to Castro, wrapped inside Congress chamber. The other, led by fugitive members of his party, was virtually carried out with the support of outgoing President Juan Orlando Hernandez and another opposition party.

Political schism has the potential to make Castro’s government almost impossible, analysts say.

Castro – nor he won the presidential election on November 28 to become the country’s first female president and end her 12-year right-wing rule. National Party – needs a strong majority to establish a platform against corruption and political reform.

Efrain Diaz Arrivillaga, a political analyst and former Honduran lawmaker, said the break was an attempt to weaken the legislature and split Castro’s party.

“Behind all this is not only the National Party and the Liberal Party, but also some of the important economic powers in Honduras that have benefited from previous governments,” Diaz told the Associated Press.

The Latin American Working Group (LAWG), a U.S.-based nonprofit group, said the congressional leadership crisis shows how challenging the Castro administration will be to tackle the country’s corruption and organized crime.

“The election of Xiomara Castro provides an opportunity for the U.S. to show the people of Honduras that the U.S. government is advocating for their rights, rather than the corrupt elites who have been governing Honduras since the 2009 coup,” said LAWG member Lisa Haugaard. the director said in a statement Tuesday.

“The U.S. government should work with the incoming president to end corruption and fulfill its promises to improve the lives of Honduran citizens.”

U.S. Vice President Kamal Harris will attend Castro’s inauguration this week. Citing unnamed U.S. officials, Reuters news agency reported that Harris had no plans to hold a formal meeting with Lai in Honduras.

Such a meeting would anger China. Although Washington has no official diplomatic relations with Taipei, it is Taiwan’s most important international sponsor and arms supplier, a frequent source of tension between Washington and Beijing.

In the run-up to the November Honduran elections, a delegation visiting Honduras in the United States made it clear that it wanted the Central American country to maintain relations with Taiwan.

As is customary when Taiwanese leaders visit Latin American allies, Lai is expected to stay in the U.S. on his way back to Honduras.