U.S. Expected to Expand Travel Ban to More Than 30 Countries 
Trump and Lula Discuss Trade, Sanctions, and Security in “Productive” Phone Call 
UN General Assembly Demands Russia Return Ukrainian Children Amid Ongoing Conflict 
U.S. Defense Chief Pete Hegseth Defends Controversial Second Strike on Suspected Drug-Smuggling Vessel 
Trump Claims He Will Void Biden Documents Signed with Autopen 
Honduras Election Turmoil Intensifies as Nasralla Blames Trump for Shift in Results 
Cuba Reaffirms Anti-Drug Cooperation as Tensions Rise in the Caribbean 
Pentagon Probe Finds Hegseth’s Use of Signal Risked Exposing Sensitive Yemen Strike Details 
IMF Deputy Dan Katz Visits China as Key Economic Review Nears 
Honduras Election Turmoil Deepens as Nasralla Alleges Fraud in Tight Presidential Race 
U.S. Justice Department Orders Intensified Probe Into Antifa and Domestic Extremist Groups 
Israel Receives Body of Deceased Hostage as Rafah Crossing Reopening Hinges on Final Returns 
Trump Administration Tightens H-1B Visa Vetting With New Focus on Free Speech and Censorship 
Maduro Confirms “Respectful” Call With Trump, Signals Openness to Diplomatic Dialogue 
Drones Spotted Near Zelenskiy’s Flight Path in Ireland Trigger Security Alert 
UN Chief Says Gaza Operation “Fundamentally Wrong” as Concerns Over War Crimes Grow 
Hong Kong Faces Low Turnout in “Patriots-Only” Election Amid Public Grief After Deadly Fire 
Taiwan has accused China of getting involved in the current diplomatic crisis surrounding Honduras and its plans to establish formal ties with Beijing. Taipei has also suggested that Honduras demanded a “high price” to maintain formal relations with the island.
On Thursday, Taiwanese foreign minister Joseph Wu told reporters at parliament that the diplomatic situation with Honduras was “not very good,” as Honduras is seeking to open formal diplomatic relations with China. Honduras is one of the few countries that recognize Taiwan’s democratic government, which China claims as its territory.
“The marks of Chinese involvement are very obvious,” said Wu, adding that the island will not engage in dollar diplomacy with China. “We’ve entered a very difficult phase, but we’ll work hard until the last minute.”
When pressed on the alleged demand by the Honduran government of $2.5 billion in aid, Wu said, “the other side demanded a high price,” but did not directly confirm the claim that was reported by Reuters on Wednesday.
Reuters’ Wednesday report cited a source familiar with the matter, saying that Honduras demanded the funds in aid from Taiwan the day before Honduran President Xiomara Castro tweeted that her administration will seek to open formal relations with China. Honduran foreign minister Eduardo Enrique Reina however, told Reuters that the $2.5 billion was “not a donation” but a request to buy the country’s public debt.
Reina previously said that the decision to switch formal ties to China was partly because Honduras was “up to its neck” in financial challenges and debt, including the $600 million it owes the island nation. The decision also follows Honduras’ announcement that it was negotiating with Beijing to build a hydroelectric dam on the Patuca River. Beijing has already invested $298 million in the first dam in eastern Honduras for the project.
The Taiwanese presidential office announced on Tuesday that Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen would make transits in the United States during her visits to Guatemala and Belize. Washington has since sought to reiterate the “personal” nature of the transits.
“These are called transits,” said National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby, reiterating that Taiwanese presidents have routinely stopped by the US during their overseas visits. The announcement of Tsai’s planned transits to the US drew condemnation from Beijing, which has also repeatedly criticized the US for maintaining unofficial relations with Taiwan, especially in the sale of arms.
