Honduran lawmaker Jorge Calix visited Taiwan for training — Taipei Times

Honduran lawmaker Jorge Calix visited Taiwan primarily to take part in the Yuan Pang Class training course organized by Taiwan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. According to the Taipei Times, Calix is the whip of the opposition Liberal Party faction in the National Congress of Honduras.

Course for regional leaders

Jose Han, head of the Latin American and Caribbean Department at Taiwan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said the annual program has provided professional training for regional leaders and introduced them to Taiwan for several decades.

According to him, the course attended by Calix was the 17th of its kind. It was attended by representatives of 20 Latin American countries, including states that do not have diplomatic relations with Taiwan. Participants included senior officials from Taiwan’s diplomatic allies, as well as legislators, heads of think tanks and business representatives from other countries.

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Contacts with Honduras

Calix became the first Honduran politician to publicly visit Taiwan since Honduras severed diplomatic relations with Taipei in favor of Beijing in March 2023. Before that, diplomatic ties between the sides had lasted 82 years.

In a September 16 statement, Taiwan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung had met with Calix the day before. According to the ministry, Lin pledged to maintain a pragmatic and open approach to the prospects of future relations, which could create various opportunities.

Han declined to comment on whether Calix’s visit was connected to a possible restoration of diplomatic relations. Honduran President Nasry Asfura, who took office in January, promised during his election campaign to restore ties with Taiwan. Since then, neither Tegucigalpa nor Taipei has publicly stated that diplomatic relations could be restored.