On Tuesday, Honduran President Xiomara Castro ordered her foreign minister to open diplomatic relations with China, squeezing Taiwan ahead of President Tsai Ing-critical wen’s travel to the US and Central America.

China claims Taiwan as its territory with no right to state-to-state connections, which Taiwan opposes.

In January 2022, Castro declared she wanted to keep ties with Taiwan despite campaigning to start relations with Beijing.

If the Central American country cuts ties, Taiwan will have only 13 diplomatic allies.

Opposition Honduran congressman Tomas Zambrano told local TV that the decision would undoubtedly harm the country’s relationship with the U.S., its largest trading partner, as many families depend on remittances.

The U.S. supports Taiwan and supplies its armaments, causing strain on Sino-U.S. relations.

“We have to look at things very pragmatically and seek the best advantage for the Honduran people,” Honduras Foreign Minister Eduardo Reina told local TV on Tuesday.

Castro’s statement, published on Twitter, comes before Tsai’s planned trip to Central America next month, where she is slated to visit Guatemala and Belize. She will also meet U.S. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, which will enrage China.

On Wednesday, Chen Chin-kung, deputy head of Taiwan’s National Security Bureau, told parliamentarians that he “definitely did not rule out” China seeking to pressure Tsai before her trip.

Taiwan has accused China of luring its allies with pledges of massive loans, which Beijing denies.

Taiwan’s Foreign Ministry urged the Honduran government to think carefully and not “fall into China’s trap.”

According to a source, Taiwan must use “every possible means” to maintain relations with Honduras.

China’s Foreign Ministry has yet to comment. Still, the Chinese ambassador to Mexico, Zhang Run, tweeted that the one-China principle, which holds that China and Taiwan are part of one country, is the international community’s consensus.

“Congratulations, Honduras! It should happen, “Zhang”

Nicaragua declared that “Taiwan is an inalienable part of the Chinese territory” in December 2021.

The U.S. State Department had at the time encouraged countries to maintain their ties with Taiwan and said Nicaragua’s decision did not reflect the people’s will as its government was not freely elected.

The U.S. State Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment regarding Honduras.

If the opposition wins the late April presidential election, Taiwan may lose Paraguay.

Efrain Alegre, the opposition’s presidential candidate, suggested that Paraguay cut ties with Taiwan and open relations with China to promote soy and beef exports.