Taipei: Taiwan has signaled a strong willingness to restore diplomatic relations with Honduras, marking a potential diplomatic shift in Central America that could challenge China’s recent gains in the region. Taiwan’s Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung announced that Taipei is “ready and open” to re-engage with the incoming leadership of Honduras, depending on the outcome of the country’s still-unfinalized presidential election.
Speaking at a press conference in Taipei, Lin confirmed that Taiwan has maintained informal communication channels with both leading candidates Salvador Nasralla, who holds a narrow lead, and his rival Nasry Asfura. Both candidates have expressed interest in reconsidering Honduras’ 2023 move to switch diplomatic recognition from Taipei to Beijing. Lin stressed that Taiwan is prepared to work with whichever candidate becomes president, provided the relationship is built on mutual respect and shared benefit.
The foreign minister also noted that any diplomatic U-turn by Honduras would be geopolitically significant, potentially marking the biggest reversal in China’s Latin American influence since Nicaragua ended its recognition of Beijing in 1990. Taiwan, which has seen several allies shift allegiance to China over the past decade, is watching the Honduran political situation closely.
China, for its part, has reacted critically to reports of possible diplomatic restoration. Beijing reiterated that Taiwan is an inseparable part of China and called the 2023 decision by Honduras a “sovereign choice” that had already produced economic advantages for Tegucigalpa. Chinese officials warned against what they described as “external interference” in Honduras’ foreign policy.
The 2023 rupture of Taiwan–Honduras ties had major economic ramifications, particularly for Honduras’ shrimp export industry, which previously relied heavily on Taiwanese markets. Following the switch, exports plummeted and many workers in the aquaculture sector were displaced, leading to widespread criticism of the decision within Honduras.
As vote counting continues and political negotiations intensify behind the scenes, Taiwan is preparing for the possibility of renewed formal ties a development that would carry considerable symbolic weight amid the island’s ongoing struggle to retain diplomatic partners in an increasingly competitive global environment.