On 1 January 2023, Honduran foreign minister Enrique Reina met with Chinese Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs [[Xie Feng (diplomat)|Xie Feng]] at the inauguration of Brazilian President [[Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva]] in [[Brazil]]. The encounter sparked concerns that Beijing was persuading Honduras to switch to recognizing China over Taiwan.<ref>{{cite web|title=MOFA concerned over Honduran, Chinese meeting|url=https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2023/01/19/2003792854|publisher=Taipei Times|access-date=26 March 2023}}</ref>
On 14 March, Honduran President [[Xiomara Castro]] announced that she had directed her foreign minister to begin the process of opening official relations with the People's Republic of China.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news |last= |date=15 March 2023 |title=Honduras president says govt to seek official relations with China |language=en |work=[[Reuters]] |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/honduras-president-says-govt-seek-official-relations-with-china-2023-03-14/ |access-date=15 March 2023}}</ref> During her presidential campaign in the [[2021 Honduran general election]], Castro had referenced the possibility of Honduras cutting its relations with [[Taiwan]]the ROC and beginning relations with the People's Republic of China,<ref>{{Cite news |last=Ernst |first=Jeff |date=1 December 2021 |title=Honduras president-elect’s China pledge puts Taiwan and US on edge |language=en-GB |work=[[The Guardian]] |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/dec/01/honduras-xiomara-castro-taiwan-china-diplomacy |access-date=15 March 2023 |issn=0261-3077}}</ref> although as recently as January 2022 she had stated a desire for Honduras to maintain ties with Taiwan.<ref name=":0" /> The Chinese foreign ministry stated that it welcomed President Castro's announcement, noting China's position that "[o]n the basis of the [[One-China Principle|One-China principle]], China is willing to develop friendly and cooperative relations with Honduras and other countries in the world."<ref name=":0" />
On 26 March, Honduras formally broke ties with Taiwanthe Republic of China, and therefore established diplomatic ties with Thethe People’s Republic of ChinaRepublics.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Cheung |first=Eric |date=26 March 2023 |title=Honduras formally cuts diplomatic ties with Taiwan |url=https://www.cnn.com/2023/03/25/asia/honduras-cuts-diplomatic-ties-with-taiwan-intl-hnk/index.html |access-date=26 March 2023 |website=CNN |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Palencia |first=Gustavo |last2=Blanchard |first2=Ben |date=26 March 2023 |title=Honduras ends decades-long Taiwan ties, Taiwan decries monetary demands |language=en |work=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/honduras-government-says-ending-diplomatic-ties-with-taiwan-2023-03-26/ |access-date=26 March 2023}}</ref> According to Taiwan Foreign Minister [[Joseph Wu]], Taiwan had ended its relations with Honduras to “safeguard its sovereignty and dignity."<ref>{{Cite web |date=26 March 2023 |title=Honduras establishes ties with China after Taiwan break |url=https://apnews.com/article/china-honduras-diplomatic-ties-taiwan-bf5c143768814fb6f9f3beff34f611d7 |access-date=26 March 2023 |website=[[Associated Press]] |language=en}}</ref>
Honduras' shift of recognition from the ROC to the PRC has met with reactions from the United States, the Czech Republic and Japan. The U.S. stated that it will continue to deepen and expand its engagement with Taiwan in line with its longstanding ‘[[one China]]’ policy.<ref>https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2023/03/27/2003796798</ref>
