TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍) said on Monday that Taiwan would be open to restoring diplomatic ties with Honduras if the opportunity arose.
Lin told lawmakers during a legislative hearing that some Honduran presidential candidates have proposed reestablishing relations with Taiwan. “We would welcome Honduras if they wanted to restore diplomatic ties with Taiwan after their elections,” he said, adding that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is closely monitoring the situation, per CNA.
Honduras severed ties in 2021 and switched recognition to Beijing after President Xiomara Castro of the Liberty and Refoundation Party took office. Lin noted that Taiwan was once the primary market for Honduran white shrimp, an industry that has collapsed since diplomatic ties were cut.
The foreign minister said Taiwan remains committed to increasing its number of allies. While past diplomatic negotiations sometimes involved specific conditions, none are currently on the table, he said. Instead, Taiwan is focused on refining its Diplomatic Allies Prosperity Project, which could serve as a framework for future partnerships.
Honduras held primary elections in March. Salvador Nasralla, a former vice president, secured the Liberal Party’s nomination and has publicly expressed support for restoring ties with Taiwan. He said doing so would strengthen Honduras’ relationship with the US and improve its international standing.
Nasralla also criticized China’s dumping of surplus goods in Honduras, which he said has hurt small and medium-sized local businesses.
The National Party’s candidate, Nasry Asfura, the former mayor of Tegucigalpa, has not made public comments about Taiwan, though other party primary candidates, Ana Garcia de Hernandez and Roberto Martinez Lozano, previously voiced strong support. Lozano said he would immediately restore diplomatic relations with Taiwan if elected.
Asfura visited Taiwan in 2015 and met with then-Taipei Mayor Ko Wen-je (柯文哲) to promote bilateral friendship and cooperation. Honduras' general elections are slated for Nov. 30.
