China’s sudden scramble to court Honduras before the country’s 30 November election shows how quickly China reacts when its influence is under threat. China’s recent purchase of shrimp, invitations for Congress members to visit China, last minute scholarships and symbolic donations in Latin America mirror tactics it has used across the Pacific to blunt Taiwan’s reach. Understanding this behaviour helps policymakers recognise that Beijing’s influence operations are global. Honduras switched diplomatic recognition from Taipei to Beijing in 2023. For China, the move was a symbolic victory in the global competition for influence. For Honduras, the switch was sold as a gateway to new trade, aid and development. Two years later, reality looks very different.
China’s reactive diplomacy shows maintenance beats momentum | The Strategist
