Taiwan president to visit Latin American allies with stops in US

Taiwan’s president will visit diplomatic allies Guatemala and Belize next week while also making stopovers in the US, the island’s foreign ministry said Tuesday, as it aims to shore up ties in Latin America.

Tsai Ing-wen will depart Taiwan on March 29 for the 10-day trip, stopping in New York and Los Angeles while en route to and from the central American countries, according to the ministry.

Belize and Guatemala are two of just 14 countries that officially recognize Taiwan over China, and Tsai’s trip comes after Honduras said earlier this month that it would be switching recognition to Beijing.