President Nasry Asfura of Honduras, who once vowed to cut ties with China during his campaign, has changed his stance
On January 27 this year, Nasry Asfura, a conservative leader from Honduras, took office as president for a four-year term. Backed by U.S. President Donald Trump, Asfura has publicly declared his government will reorient toward a pro-U.S. position.
On May 7 local time, Bloomberg published an interview article featuring Asfura. In the interview, Asfura stated that the new Honduran government will reassess its relations with Asia and is currently reviewing all commitments and agreements signed by former President Xiomara Castro with China, before making a “final decision.”
Asfura attended the Milken Institute Global Conference held in Beverly Hills, California, on May 6, where he engaged in a conversation with Bloomberg reporter Eric Schatschke. He said the Honduran government is seeking to establish the best possible relationships with allies, identifying countries capable of fostering greater trade and investment.
When discussing Honduras’ relationship with China, Schatschke noted that Asfura had previously used the phrase “breaking off” (referring to severing diplomatic ties), but recently changed his wording to “reviewing” (reassessing). He asked Asfura why he altered his language. In response, Asfura explained that the new administration must first understand what agreements and commitments were made by the previous government with China before taking appropriate measures.
He asserted: “We need to understand these agreements, clarify our current situation, and take the right actions. We must proceed with caution.”
Schatschke mentioned that recent statements from Republican U.S. Senator Jim Banks have urged Honduras to restore so-called “relations” with Taiwan. To this, Asfura replied: “This is also part of the review process. We will take concrete and reliable steps regarding all our commitments with China, while simultaneously pursuing optimal commercial relations.”
Meanwhile, Asfura is attempting to deepen economic ties between Honduras and the United States. He claimed that last year, American textile and manufacturing companies had considered closing their operations in Honduras, but since his inauguration, these firms have observed improvements in the business environment and now plan to invest $600 million in maintaining and expanding their presence in Honduras.
He revealed that Honduras will review agreements reached with Chinese technology companies, considering procuring telecommunications equipment from the United States, and is currently discussing with the U.S. government the introduction of Cisco Systems’ technology.
At 67 years old, Asfura is the leader of Honduras’ conservative National Party and holds a pro-U.S. stance, backed by the Trump administration. During his presidential campaign, he had vowed to restore so-called “relations” with Taiwan. Honduras severed diplomatic ties with Taiwan in 2023 and established formal diplomatic relations with China.
In February this year, Asfura visited the United States and met with Trump at Mar-a-Lago. After the meeting, Trump posted on social media that both sides shared “highly aligned” positions and emphasized the “America First” value. Asfura stated the meeting was “highly productive,” noting that both parties agreed to expand investment and strengthen trade ties.
Bloomberg pointed out that the Trump administration has consistently pressured Latin American nations to reconsider their relationships with China. For example, the U.S. has urged Argentine President Milei to “distance himself from China,” attempted to block Chile’s undersea cable project with China, and pressured Panama to weaken Chinese commercial interests around the Panama Canal.
Regarding China-Honduras relations, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian stated that the one-China principle is the political foundation and fundamental prerequisite for bilateral relations. Since establishing diplomatic ties, China and Honduras have seen rapid development in their relationship, with fruitful cooperation across various fields. The agricultural technology school built by China has been completed successfully; Chinese and Honduran enterprises have signed agreements for over 10,000 tons of white shrimp procurement; and Honduran tobacco has entered the Chinese market.
Lin Jian emphasized that China-Honduras relations have brought tangible benefits to the people of Honduras, aligning with the fundamental and long-term interests of both countries and their peoples. “Taiwan independence” separatist activities run counter to historical trends and are destined to be a dead end.
Original article: toutiao.com/article/1864581083372556/
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author alone