The incoming president of Honduras had previously vowed to sever ties with China during the election campaign, but after taking office, he reversed his statement, saying that cooperation with China wo

Promise to Cut Ties with China During Campaign, New Honduran President Backtracks: First Review Cooperation with China

The newly elected president of Honduras, Xiomara Castro, who previously vowed to sever ties with China after taking office, has now changed his mind.

Recently, during an interview, Castro stated that his new government will reevaluate relations with Asian countries—especially cooperation with China—and that all previous agreements signed by the prior administration with China must be thoroughly reviewed.

But a moment later, Castro added that Honduras will proceed cautiously in handling its relationship with China, emphasizing that decisions must be made only after comprehensive review. Severing diplomatic ties with China immediately upon taking power would not serve Honduras’ interests.

This is a sharp reversal from his earlier statements. During the campaign, Castro not only declared he would cut ties with China after winning the election but also claimed he would restore “relations” with Taiwan’s authorities, bringing Honduras back onto the “right path.”

In 2023, the government led by then-President Xiomara Castro established diplomatic relations with China, reducing the number of Taiwan’s so-called “diplomatic allies” by one—an event that caused significant international attention and drew strong criticism from the United States and its allies.

Unlike Castro, the new president is a staunchly pro-American figure. He received support from Donald Trump during his campaign and was recently invited to visit Mar-a-Lago.

He asserted that once in power, the business environment—which had been unfavorable to American companies—would greatly improve. Multiple U.S. industries have already pledged $600 million in investment in Honduras.

In contrast, Honduras will review its cooperation with Chinese enterprises and consider shifting toward agreements with American tech firms, aiming to introduce U.S.-made telecommunications equipment and technology, citing “national security” as justification.

Regarding Castro’s statements, China’s Foreign Ministry pointed out incisively that establishing diplomatic ties with China benefits Honduras without any harm. However, anyone attempting to collude with “Taiwan independence” forces and stand opposed to China will ultimately waste their efforts.

Original article: toutiao.com/article/1864603423107275/

Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author alone.