(Guatemala) The President of Guatemala Alejandro Giammattei announced on Tuesday that he would make an official visit to Taiwan on Saturday to show his support for the island, which has come under pressure from military maneuvers by Beijing.
“I’m going to Taiwan on Saturday April 22,” Mr. Giammattei said.
Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen made a visit earlier this month to Guatemala, then to Belize, the only two Central American countries to maintain diplomatic relations with Taipei after the breakup of Honduras on March 26, which decided to establish official relations with Beijing.
On her way back from Central America, Ms. Tsai had met Republican Speaker of the House of Representatives Kevin McCarthy in Los Angeles. This angered Beijing, which retaliated with three days of major military maneuvers around the island.
“We are about to sign an agreement that is being finalized […] with Taiwan for more access for Guatemalan products” to the market on the island, Giammattei said. The Head of State notably cited the market shares for coffee and sugar previously devolved to Honduras and which will “now pass to Guatemala”.
He also said he would visit Taiwan’s “biggest companies” that want to “come to Guatemala.”
Taipei, he said, will dedicate “a fund to deal with natural disasters” and donate $1.5 million for the air conditioning system at the airport in the Guatemalan capital.
