A Taiwanese ally in Guatemala opposes Beijing militants

Beijing has pressured Guatemala to change embassies from Taipei to Beijing and has offered the coronavirus vaccine as a boost, according to US President Alejandro Giammattei.

But Guatemala, the largest economy still known as the island, which Beijing sees as part of China, wants to remain loyal to Taipei even though its neighbors have changed, Giammattei told the Financial Times in an interview.

Following the Nicaraguan ruling Thursday severing ties with Taiwan, the island region has only 14 allies, mainly in Latin America and the Caribbean.

Beijing has been a strong supporter of the region and has for the past four years persuaded El Salvador, Panama and the Dominican Republic to leave Taiwan. Honduras President-elect Xiomara Castro, taking office in January, was promised in his election manifesto transition to China.

“We are the last country in which China has not done well to position itself,” Giammattei said in connection with a video during his visit to Washington. “The Chinese are pressuring us, giving us too much. . . they gave [vaccines but] we did not approve. ”

Guatemala’s allegiance to Taiwan was a “question of opinion”, the President added, adding that Taipei was his “true companion” for his country. In the Covid-19 epidemic, “the first [bio]protective clothing shipped to Guatemala. . . sent by Taiwan when no one could catch it because it was over; the first pauses that reached Guatemala. . . is from Taiwan, “he said.

But Pepe Zhang, an expert on China-Latin America relations at the Atlantic Council, said Guatemala was making a limited number of decisions. “Taiwanese aid workers. . . will need to weigh the value and benefits of their relations with Taiwan, the US and China, “he said.

The established, business-minded Giammattei took power in January 2020 and pledged to promote development in the poorest mountains of Guatemala – the source of many migrants who have taken thousands in Central America to poor countries. to the US border in recent years.

The president expressed frustration with Biden’s move to the US, which is struggling to cope with the growing population. The US has pledged a $ 4bn grant to Central America to address the root causes of migration, which experts say are fueled by corruption, violence and poverty. But Washington has faced challenges in achieving this amid growing disagreements with local governments.

When asked when the support related to the plan would first be provided, Giammattei replied: “If you do not know anything, I do not know either.” Washington and his government did not understand each other, he said, adding: “They probably do not understand my Spanish and I do not understand their English.”

Guatemala, El Salvador and Honduras – the three so-called “North Triangle” countries that are at the center of US efforts to curb migration – have been left out of the US-led group. democratic assembly this week in response to a statement from Uzra Zeya, the head of the state department, stated that he was “concerned about the rule of law and leadership and the fight against corruption”.

The move comes after the US announced penalty in September against Guatemalan two officials, including María Consuelo Porras Argueta De Porres, the state attorney general, for obstructing a bribery investigation and firing on a prosecutor.

Earlier that month, government officials in Guatemala launched an investigation into reports that a mining company had tried to bribe Giammattei. The president, who enjoys security for his office, has not been charged with any crime and has denied any wrongdoing.

Giammattei blamed Washington for failing to respond to Guatemala’s efforts to improve US security. Citing a list of drug traffickers and traffickers who were deported from Guatemala to the US, he said: “We feel we are allied with the United States even though… The US does not consider us to be agents.”

Guatemala’s economy surpassed that of its neighbors during the epidemic, with just about 1.5 percent on domestic sales last year. The IMF expects Guatemala’s economy to grow by 5.5 percent this year and 4.5 percent by 2023, making it one of the best in Latin America.

Last month Millicom, a European telephone company, launched it very large foreign currency in the country, spending $ 2.2bn to fully control Tigo’s largest mobile operator. Guatemala expects the total FDI this year to reach $ 3.4bn.

Giammattei said he hopes to raise $ 5bn in toll roads while Guatemala uses public-private partnerships to close economic opportunities and make the country more competitive with countries seeking to move out of China.

The country around Mexico offers access to North America’s USMCA zone, and the President said the Japanese automotive company was about to advertise a manufacturing facility in the Guatemalan free zone near its border with Mexico.

“We spoke yesterday with US senators and congressmen about the US’s ability to pay taxes to North American companies in China to come to this part of the country,” he said.

Giammattei forbade embezzlement from neighboring El Salvador, which it said becoming the first country in the worldy take bitcoin as a legitimate way.

“We have 25 years of great economic stability. . . Do you think we can be in danger of moving from a stable to a changing, dynamic and adaptable race? “he said.” I don’t think so.