TAIWAN ARMY CONDUCTS COMBAT READINESS EXERCISE AHEAD OF LUNAR NEW YEAR — Taiwan News, 27 January 2022
TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The Taiwan Army’s Guandu Area Command held a reconnaissance and patrol exercise to maintain combat readiness ahead of the Lunar New Year on Wednesday 26 January 2022. The Guandu Area Command’s 2nd battalion conducted a combat readiness inspection to ensure its CM-21 armored personnel carriers were in working order and carried out a test of in-vehicle communication equipment. Troops practiced chain of command procedures and conducted a long-distance march. Three CM-21s were also dispatched to protect key infrastructure near the barracks. In recent years military exercises have been held on public grounds, with troops, weapons, and vehicles now often spotted near riverside parks in the greater Taipei area.
NEW HONDURAS LEADER SAYS SHE HOPES TO MAINTAIN TAIWAN TIES — Reuters, 27 January 2022
TAIPEI (Reuters) — Honduras is grateful for Taiwan’s support and hopes to maintain their relationship, President-elect Xiomara Castro said after meeting Taiwan’s vice president, in a reassuring message to Taipei which had fretted about losing an ally. Honduras is one of only 14 countries with formal diplomatic relations with Chinese-claimed Taiwan. Castro had floated the idea of ditching Taipei for Beijing in her election campaign. In comments to Taiwanese media after meeting Vice President William Lai, who was in Honduras for the presidential inauguration, Castro said: “The people of Honduras are always grateful to the people of Taiwan for their support that they have always given us. We have worked together hand in hand for many years and hope to maintain this relationship.” China has ramped up pressure to reduce Taiwan’s international footprint, and last month re-established relations with Nicaragua, a neighbour of Honduras.