A few days before the general elections in Honduras, a US delegation visiting the country was direct and undiplomatic in its messages to the two main presidential candidates, the then victorious Xiomara Castro, of the Free Party, and the mayor of the capital, Nasry Asfura, of the until then ruling National Party.
At their meetings, the delegation, led by Brian Nichols, undersecretary of state for the Western Hemisphere, made it clear that Washington wants the country to maintain its diplomatic relations with Taiwan.
Washington and Beijing in the Central American region
Since Nixon’s times, the United States has recognized the People’s Republic of China as the representative of Taiwan, of the Chinese people, but since the power projects only respond to its own interests, it is not a question of giving more power to the enemy, allowing unholy relations. .
An unofficial State Department spokesman, who requested anonymity, said Washington had warned Central American nations of “some of the risks associated with China’s approach to the region.” With a triumphant Asfura, not even suspicions of rapprochement with Mainland China would have arisen, but as the right-wing party candidate suffered a crushing defeat, things got complicated.
The 30-point plan for the first 100 days of the new government, which Xiomara’s team drew up, precisely states in point six that “I will immediately open diplomatic and trade relations with Mainland China.”
Before the elections, however, the then vice-presidential candidate, Salvador Nasralla, expressed that this was an issue to be agreed upon and that it was not considered urgent. After the elections, in similar terms, elected deputy Hugo Noé Pino, a respected economist, co-founder of the Freedom and Refoundation Party (Libre), spoke out.
So, for now, Washington can expect Honduras not to change its stance on Taiwan, but the situation could change in the more or less near future. It must be considered that companies from Mainland China have a presence in the country, building various public works, such as the Patuca 3 hydroelectric plant. China, in fact, although at a low level, already has a foothold in Honduras.
It should be noted that Honduras is one of the few countries in the world that maintains diplomatic relations with Taiwan, a list that shrinks almost periodically. Recently, Nicaragua severed its long-standing ties with the island to turn to China.
In Washington, China’s growing influence is viewed with alarm, both economically and politically, in a region where the United States has always had decisive influence. The State Department spokesperson told Reuters that “we have been very clear with all the key actors in Honduras because we believe that the relationship between Honduras and Taiwan is very important. We would like this to continue.”
The Northern Triangle of Central America
In recent times, the United States has not fared very well in the strategic Central American region, known as the Northern Triangle, made up of Honduras, Guatemala and El Salvador. Guatemalan President Giammattei has attitudes that do not always respond to Washington’s interests. And we’re not even talking about the rebellious and erratic Salvadoran Nayib Bukele.
Until now, Washington has had the interested and fearful loyalty of Honduran Juan Orlando Hernández, but he leaves and leaves none other than the wife of Mel Zelaya, who was ousted in 2009 with the approval of the then Obama administration, in the presidential chair.
Concerns about China are intensifying at the White House and the Pentagon, which has defined these three countries as the red fence that Beijing must not cross in its influence strategy and in the installation of civilian infrastructure for possible military use.
According to the specialized magazine Military Times, Washington is putting strong pressure on governments in the region not to allow their territories to host facilities from China that could be for civil and military use, such as the space base located in the Argentine province of Neuquén, which has little oversight. of the national state.
Another, more worrying for the Pentagon, is the permission granted by Nicaragua to the company Xinwei Telecom Enterprise Group to build telecommunications networks. At the time, the interoceanic channel was another cause for alarm, but, as predicted by experts, it could never be implemented due to structural and financial infeasibility.
Honduras and relations with China
Such is Washington’s interest in preventing the establishment of relations between Honduras and China that, after the elections, it sent the Under Secretary of State for Democracy and Human Rights, Uzra Zeya, to hold talks with the current authorities and with the President. elected Xiomara Castro.
It should be noted that the Free Party work team has been making representations for a few months to senior US officials to calm things down. The new government will not focus on conflicting actions, because it has much to do with the inheritance it receives.
Therefore, its actions will be aimed mainly at fighting corruption and improving the economy. Two essential points that are welcomed in Washington, because they are the most important causes of mass and uncontrolled emigration. In this context, relations with China take a back seat and, for the time being, will probably not be dealt with.
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