Honduras demanded $2.5 billion in aid from Taiwan the day before Honduran President Xiomara Castro tweeted her government would seek to open relations with China, a source familiar with the situation told Reuters on Wednesday.
Honduras is one of only 14 countries to maintain formal diplomatic ties with Chinese-claimed Taiwan and Beijing has been stepping up efforts to win over Taipei's remaining allies, saying that as a Chinese province the island has no right to state-to-state ties, which Taiwan strongly disputes.
The source familiar with the situation confirmed a report by Taiwan's official Central News Agency that on March 13 the Honduran Foreign Minister Eduardo Enrique Reina had written to Taiwan's foreign ministry demanding the money.There was no immediate response from the Honduran government.was partly because the Central American country was "up to its neck" in financial challenges and debt - including $600 million it owes Taiwan.
Taking lawmaker questions in parliament earlier on Wednesday, Taiwan Deputy Foreign Minister Tien Chung-kwang said the government will not "lightly give up" on trying to keep Honduras and was "still working hard".
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