TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) Sunday (Aug. 18) welcomed a pledge by a Honduran opposition leader to resume diplomatic relations with Taiwan if he is elected.

In an interview with local station Radio America on Saturday, former Vice President Salvador Nasralla said if he is elected president in 2025, he will restore diplomatic ties with Taiwan. MOFA said it would continue to monitor the situation in Honduras and engage with countries without setting any preconditions, per CNA.

Nasralla was an important ally of President Xiomara Castro from the Libre party during her election win, but when she pushed for establishing diplomatic relations with China, he publicly opposed it and strongly supported Taiwan. Nasralla is now seeking to become the Partido Liberal's presidential candidate.

In his interview, Nasralla expressed opposition to signing a free trade agreement (FTA) with China. “Our trade with China does not need an FTA and these quadrupeds of the government led by (Manuel) Mel Zelaya are handing over the national territory to a power taking advantage of the ignorance of the people who govern the country today.”

Zelaya is a former president and, as Castro's husband, the first gentleman of Honduras, in addition to being her top advisor. 

Nasralla also said Honduran foreign policy should be about establishing commercial relationships with all countries and creating export markets without political or ideological commitments. He presented data showing that in 2022, Honduras exported US$121 million to Taiwan, while it only exported US$11 million to China.

In contrast, he pointed out Honduras imported over US$200 million from China. He described commerce with China as a “super unfavorable trade balance.” 

Nasralla pointed out that after Honduras severed diplomatic ties with Taiwan, the country lost 8,000 direct jobs and 50,000 indirect job opportunities in the shrimp farming industry alone, resulting in significant losses.

On Sunday, MOFA said there are many examples of countries in Central and South America that have suffered negative consequences after engaging with China.

The ministry pointed out that Beijing has long used threats and incentives against Taiwan's allies to try and isolate the country internationally. Since Honduras established diplomatic relations with China in March of last year, it has hoped to benefit from trade and investment. 

However, MOFA said facts have shown that China has not fulfilled its substantial promises made during the establishment of diplomatic ties.

The ministry added that not only has Honduras failed to receive the expected benefits, but it has also faced the collapse of its shrimp farming industry and severe trade imbalances, again highlighting China's “unscrupulous behavior” in the diplomatic arena.

In contrast to China's diplomatic practices, MOFA said Taiwan has always adhered to the spirit of mutual benefit and assistance, helping its allies develop the people's livelihoods “with tangible results that are obvious for all to see.”