Honduras severs ties with Taiwan to boost China relations

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
15 Mar 2023 09:23
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Honduras' president Xiomara Castro moves to launch negotiations with China and recognize the One-China policy.

Honduras' President Xiomara Castro waves during the swearing-in ceremony for Colombia's President Gustavo Petro in Bogota, Colombia, Sunday, Aug. 7, 2022 (AP).

Honduras' President Xiomara Castro waves during the swearing-in ceremony for Colombia's President Gustavo Petro in Bogota, Colombia, Sunday, Aug. 7, 2022The government of Honduras, led by President Xiomatra Castro, announced it would be severing ties with Taiwan as it sought to establish diplomatic ties with China.

Honduras recognizing the One-China policy and severing ties with Taipei meant that Taiwan has become only recognized by 13 countries.

On Twitter, Castro instructed Honduran Foreign Affairs Minister Eduardo Reina to launch negotiations with the People's Republic of China with the intention to “expand frontiers freely in concert with the nations of the world.”

He instruido al Canciller Eduardo Reina, para que gestione la apertura de relaciones oficiales con la República Popular China, como muestra de mi determinación para cumplir el Plan de Gobierno y expandir las fronteras con libertad en el concierto de las naciones del mundo.
— Xiomara Castro de Zelaya (@XiomaraCastroZ) March 14, 2023

Castro, Honduras' first female president, took the oath of office in January 2022. In November 2021, she won the presidential election, ending a 130-year power struggle between the Libre and the National Parties.

Under 'democracy' cover, US set to tighten grip on Central America

The US Congress referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs a new bill, in November 2022, to support Washington's political influence in Central America, as the United States's grasp over the region frails.

With leftist governments taking over in Nicaragua and Honduras, and an independent government in El Salvador, all critical of the United States, the US Congress is discussing a new bill titled "Central American network for Democracy Act."

It was proposed to allocate an amount of USD 10 million to support this bill for the fiscal year 2023.

The US empire has lost its chokehold on Central America. Nicaragua & Honduras have leftist governments; El Salvador has an independent government that is critical of the US and close to China

So the US Congress introduced a new "democracy act" to fund fifth columns in the region pic.twitter.com/7BPK4djq2v
— Ben Norton (@BenjaminNorton) November 29, 2022

The new American legislative proposal stipulates that the US State Department shall establish a "fellowship program" to be known as the "Central American Network for Democracy."

The program aims to "support a regional corps of civil society activists, lawyers (including members of the judiciary and prosecutors’ offices), journalists, and investigators for regional democracy and rule of law activities in Central America," according to the bill.

The most direct-interventionist approach set by the bill comes in the form of potentially strengthening "protection for the physical safety of individuals who must leave their home country to participate in the program, including assistance for temporary relocation, English language learning, and mental health support."