TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Taiwan is gradually re-engaging with Honduras, Han Chih-cheng (韓志正), director-general of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ Department of Latin American and Caribbean Affairs, said Tuesday.

Taiwan has maintained contacts with all political parties in Honduras even after severing diplomatic ties in 2023, Han said at a press conference. Taiwan believes Honduran President Nasry Asfura will proceed with caution in moving toward reestablishing relations, he added.

Asfura pledged to restore ties with Taiwan during his presidential campaign.

Han said Honduras’ white shrimp farming industry has been severely impacted since the country switched diplomatic recognition to Beijing. Small and medium-sized businesses have also been affected by the dumping of low-cost Chinese products, he said, adding that Honduras’ trade deficit with China has continued to widen since 2023.

Honduran Vice President Maria Antonieta Mejia Sanchez said in February that restoring diplomatic relations with Taiwan would be a gradual process, according to Honduran newspaper La Tribuna. “All we want at this moment is to seek the best diplomatic relations that will benefit Honduras,” Mejia said.

The vice president said foreign policy decisions will be made responsibly “without haste or romantic decisions.”

In response, Taiwan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said it will continue to advance pragmatic ties with Honduras without preset conditions.

In January, Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍) said that with renewed US engagement in the Western Hemisphere, Taiwan–Honduras relations could make further progress. Lin added that Taiwan has been promoting its Diplomatic Allies Prosperity Project among neighboring diplomatic allies, including Belize and Guatemala, and that Honduras has taken note of those efforts.