The President of Honduras, Juan Orlando Hernández, is set to make an official visit to Taiwan. President Hernández is expected to arrive on Friday evening and meet President Tsai Ing-wen on Saturday morning.
The Presidential Office says that President Tsai speaks for the people and government of Taiwan in extending a warm welcome to the visiting Honduran delegation.
This will be the fourth time President Hernández has visited Taiwan. Presidential Office spokesperson Xavier Chang says this trip has special significance, because it comes as Taiwan and Honduras celebrate 80 years of diplomatic relations.
Chang says Taiwan and Honduras have a long history of close cooperation in trade, healthcare, education, and a number of other fields. He says bilateral ties have flourished under President Hernández.
Honduras is one of four countries in Central America that have full diplomatic relations with Taiwan, alongside Guatemala, Nicaragua, and Belize.
However, President Hernández’s visit also comes at a time when the future of bilateral ties is in doubt. One of the two leading candidates in the country’s upcoming presidential election, Xiomara Castro, has vowed to establish diplomatic relations with China instead if elected.
China does not engage in diplomatic relations with any country that recognizes Taiwan, so Castro would need to sever ties with Taiwan to fulfill her promise.