We also asked the Home Affairs Minister about recent regional events with geopolitical implications. The President of Honduras, Xiomara Castro, has indicated that her country will abandon its alliance with Taiwan and switch to mainland China. That leaves the island nation with only 13 allies, Belize being one of them.
Musa has a unique perspective on it because he is one of the few Belizean politicians who has visited red China in an official capacity when he was in opposition. So, with so many of our neighbors having switched - is Belize considering it? Musa said that level of decision making is above him:
Kareem Musa, Minister of Home Affairs
"That is certainly above my pay grade, let's start there. Ahm, but we continue to enjoy a very healthy and productive relationship with Taiwan. We have been huge friends and huge allies of Belize for quite some time now, I think since the 80's and so that is not even something that is up for consideration at this time. They are our friends and allies and we completely respect them. There is this shift that is taking place across the world, but as far as I am aware no types of discussions like that is happening with our ministry of foreign affairs. They are certainly sticking with Taiwan."
Speaking of his country's decision to switch, the Honduran foreign minister, Eduardo Reina, said the decision was about "pragmatism, not ideology" and was motivated by the country's debt.
The only remaining countries on the American mainland that maintain diplomatic relations with Taiwan are Belize, Guatemala, and Paraguay.
