Taiwan President Tsai scrambles for allies in Central America visit

Taiwanese President President Tsai Ing-wen is aiming to shore up ties with the island’s remaining allies during a trip this week to Central America

As Taiwan's diplomatic partners dwindle and turn instead to rival China, Taiwanese President President Tsai Ing-wen is aiming to shore up ties with the self-governing island's remaining allies during a trip this week to Central America.

In a speech addressed to leaders of Guatemala and Belize shortly before departing, Ms. Tsai framed the trip as a chance to show Taiwan's commitment to democratic values globally.

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“External pressure will not obstruct our resolution to go on the world stage. We will be calm, self-confident, we will not submit but also not provoke,” said Ms. Tsai, who will also meet with U.S. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy in a stopover in the United States.

But the trip also is aimed to solidifying ties in Latin America as China funnels money into the region and pressures its countries to break off relations with the self-governed democratic island.

In Guatemala and Belize, Tsai is expected to bring an open checkbook. But in a region under growing Chinese influence, analysts say that Taiwan may already have lost the long game.

“These countries, they are symbolic. And I don't think Taiwan wants to lose any of them,” said June Teufel Dreyer, a political scientist at University of Miami.