TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Restoring diplomatic relations with Taiwan would be a gradual process, Honduras Vice President Maria Antonieta Mejia Sanchez said on Monday.

“It has all been a process; we need to review the agreements that were signed,” Mejia said, referring to the 16 agreements signed with China under former president Xiomara Castro, per Honduran newspaper La Tribuna. Castro severed diplomatic ties with Taiwan in 2023 in favor of China.

“What we don’t want is to further damage the country’s economy, because if there are loans involved, the Honduran people will have to pay for them through their taxes,” the vice president said. She said a technical team is analyzing the agreements to advise President Nasry Asfura before any final decisions are made.

“In the end, the Honduran people will be told what the final decision will be ... all we want at this moment is to seek the best diplomatic relations that will benefit Honduras,” Mejia said.

Mejia said foreign policy decisions will be made responsibly “without haste or romantic decisions.” She noted that restoring diplomatic relations with Taiwan was a campaign promise of Asfura and that Honduras also seeks to improve ties with the US, Israel, and the EU.

Amid the possibility of resumed ties between Taiwan and Honduras, Taiwanese business representatives have expressed eagerness to resume importing Honduran shrimp. Importers said they are ready to restart shrimp shipments as soon as possible, aiming to restore the supply chain to pre-2023 levels.