Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen arrived in Belize on Sunday (April 2) to conclude a tour of Central America after a visit to Guatemala, where she renewed her support for her "
diplomatic allies
".
"
President Tsai Ing-en has arrived in Belize (...) and will meet Belize's Prime Minister John Briceno tomorrow
," the country's official television reported on Sunday.
The Honduran turnaround
She landed at 4 p.m. (10 p.m. Paris time) at Belize City International Airport where military honors were given to her.
The two leaders are to reaffirm their alliance after another country in the region, Honduras, severed ties with Taipei and decided to recognize Beijing on March 26.
Along with Guatemala, Belize is Taiwan's last ally in Central America.
The island is only recognized by thirteen countries since the reversal of Honduras.
In the name of the “
one China
” principle advocated by Beijing, no country is supposed to maintain diplomatic relations with China and Taiwan at the same time, and Beijing reiterates its opposition to official meetings between foreign and Taiwanese representatives.
Chinese threat of response
On the outward journey, Tsai Ing-wen had made a stopover in New York and on the way back, she must stop by California, where the Speaker of the American House of Representatives, Kevin McCarthy, declared that he would meet her.
Taiwanese authorities have not confirmed.
China has promised to "
fight back
" if the Taiwanese president meets with a senior US leader.
In Guatemala on Sunday, Tsai Ing-wen pledged that "
Taiwan will continue to support the substantial and long-term development of its diplomatic allies
" in the face of Chinese threats, renewing its wish to collaborate with its "
democratic partners
" around the world.
The leader and her Guatemalan counterpart, Alejandro Giammattei, reaffirmed the ties between their two countries on Friday.
