Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen (R) and Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernandez are pictured in Taipei on Nov. 13, 2021. (Central News Agency/Kyodo)

       TAIPEI (Kyodo) -- Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen and Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernandez confirmed the importance of their relationship in a meeting in Taipei on Saturday, amid China's increased attempts to isolate the self-ruled island.

       Honduras is one of only 15 countries that maintain formal diplomatic ties with Taiwan, which Beijing considers a breakaway province in need of reunification.

       "We hope we will continue to support each other internationally and promote our development together," Tsai told Hernandez, who will step down following a general election on Nov. 28, having completed the second of two four-year terms.

       While the outgoing president has maintained ties with Taiwan, one of the leading candidates to succeed him, Xiomara Castro of the left-wing opposition Liberty and Refoundation Party, has vowed she will open diplomatic relations with Beijing instead.

       Hernandez arrived in Taiwan on Friday for a three-day visit. This is his third trip to Taiwan as president, having previously visited in 2015 and 2016.

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