Vice President Lai Ching-te has set off for the Central American country of Honduras to represent Taiwan at the inauguration of the new Honduran president.
Honduras is one of 14 countries that maintain full diplomatic relations with Taiwan. Honduras’ President-elect Xiomara Castro had pledged during her campaign that if elected, she would sever ties with Taiwan and recognize Beijing instead. However, her incoming administration has since distanced itself from this pledge, apparently to avoid damaging Honduras’ ties with the United States.
President Tsai Ing-wen has selected Vice President Lai to lead a Taiwanese delegation to Xiomara’s inauguration. She has charged Lai with deepening Taiwan’s ties with Honduras and Taiwan-Honduras cooperation while also furthering Taiwan’s participation in international affairs.
To help achieve these goals, Lai’s delegation is bringing a shipment of Taiwan-made medical supplies for distribution among Honduras’ population as part of COVID-prevention efforts. Lai also plans to hold exchanges with the representatives of other friendly nations at the inauguration.
Before his departure on Tuesday, Lai said over their more than 80 years of diplomatic ties, Taiwan and Honduras have supported one another. He says his attendance at Xiomara’s inauguration in the midst of the COVID pandemic should demonstrate how much Taiwan values its ties with Honduras.
Lai thanked Honduras for its longstanding support for Taiwan in international settings, and its vocal support for Taiwan’s inclusion in international organizations. He said that Taiwan has shown its appreciation for Honduras through various cooperative plans and support for reconstruction efforts after natural disasters in Honduras.
Lai also hailed the growing volume of trade between Honduras and Taiwan.
He says that as Xiomara takes office, Taiwan will continue to uphold its policy of practicing “pragmatic diplomacy” and pursuing mutually beneficial relations, while deepening its cooperation with Honduras.