Guatemala to Maintain Taiwan Ties While Pursuing Greater Trade with China, Reports Reuters

By Sofia Menchu

GUATEMALA CITY (Reuters) – President Bernardo Arevalo of Guatemala stated on Thursday that the country does not intend to sever diplomatic relations with Taiwan, even as it seeks to strengthen economic ties with China. He emphasized that while Guatemala will pursue relationships with both entities, it will not favor one over the other.

Guatemala is among a small group of nations that still maintain official connections with Taiwan. In contrast, neighboring Honduras switched its allegiance to China last year after requesting nearly $2.5 billion in aid from Beijing, which claims Taiwan as part of its territory.

Arevalo took office in mid-January with the promise to combat corruption and foster relations with China, raising concerns that this might threaten the longstanding diplomatic relationship with Taiwan. This week, Foreign Minister Carlos Ramiro Martinez indicated to Reuters that Guatemala is considering the possibility of formal trade ties with China, prompting the opposition to call for clarification on the country’s foreign policy direction.

In his first public affirmation of Guatemala’s ties with Taiwan since taking office, Arevalo assured that his administration would maintain its commitment. "We are not choosing," he stated in an interview at the National Palace. "Diplomatic relations are with Taiwan, and with the People’s Republic of China, there are trade relations that will continue to develop."

Arevalo, who has a background in academia and diplomacy, has also pledged to address the underlying causes of migration in Guatemala, particularly the widespread poverty that has led many citizens to attempt to migrate illegally to the United States. In 2022, approximately 233,000 Guatemalans arrived at borders in the U.S.

To enhance legal migration opportunities, Arevalo’s administration is currently pursuing a significant increase in quotas for temporary worker visas available to Guatemalans under an agreement with the United States. "We want to make this a pretty significant initiative," he remarked, adding that discussions between the two nations are underway regarding potential mechanisms to meet labor demands in both urban and rural areas of the United States.