Honduras reaffirms ties with Taiwan

ROC Central News Agency

2018/09/28 19:06:11

Washington, Sept. 27 (CNA) Marlon Tabora-Munoz, ambassador of Honduras to the United States, said Thursday his country will continue its strong and long relationship with Taiwan amid speculation that bilateral ties have become unstable.

The people of Honduras feel and perceive the real benefits of having a strong relationship with Taiwan, said Tabora-Munoz, who believed the two sides will continue forward with the relationship.

"We have strong ties, especially matters like education, for example, there are a lot of people from Honduras studying in Taiwan. So we expect to continue strengthening the relationship," Tabora-Munoz said while attending an event held by the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in Washington.

Bilateral relations between both countries are stable at present, he said, adding that "based on information I have at this time, there is no official decision about breaking or not the relationship with Taiwan."

"What is the fact, what is the reality at this time is we have a strong relationship and we continue working on that," he said.

Five diplomatic allies of Taiwan have severed ties with the country, generally under pressure from China, since President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) took office in May 2016.

Three of the countries that have cut ties -- Panama in June 2017, the Dominican Republic in May 2018 and El Salvador in August 2018 -- were in Central America and the Caribbean.

Many local scholars and former diplomats warned after El Salvador's defection that more Central American allies, particularly Honduras, Nicaragua and Guatemala, could be next in line.

President Juan Orlando Hernández of Honduras and leaders of Taiwan allies Haiti and Guatemala also did not voice support for Taiwan's participation in the United Nations during the international body's ongoing General Assembly session, further raising concerns.

(By Leaf Chiang and Lee Hsin-Yin)
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