Incoming Honduran president's camp 'promises' Taiwan ties to remain

Taipei, Dec. 8 (CNA) Honduran president-elect Xiomara Castro's team has promised that the Central American nation's diplomatic ties with Taiwan will remain unchanged, Foreign Minister Joseph Wu (吳釗燮) said Wednesday, despite Castro's statements during her campaign that she would switch recognition to China if she won.

"After the election, our embassy in Honduras established contact with the campaign staff [of Castro] and the vice president-elect," Wu said during a Legislative session Wednesday.

"They gave us their word that the diplomatic ties [between the two countries] will not be affected," Wu told lawmakers.

Castro is set to officially assume office on Jan. 27, 2021, according to Wu, though he did not say if Taiwan would be sending a delegation to attend her inauguration ceremony.

Castro's victory in the Nov. 28 presidential election means she will become the nation's first female president.

However, Castro's upcoming presidency could potentially end the 80-year diplomatic relationship between the Republic of China, the official name of Taiwan, and Honduras.

The 62-year-old wife of ousted former Honduran President Jose Manuel Zelaya had said during her campaign that she would switch diplomatic relations to China if she won, though one of her close aides later said no final decision had been made.

After winning the race, President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) congratulated Castro on her victory in a Dec. 1 tweet. In response, Castro retweeted and thanked Tsai's congratulatory message, in a move interpreted by some to mean Taiwan-Honduras ties would remain intact after she assumes office next year.