In a significant development, Honduran president Xiomara Castro said, the incoming government does not plan on establishing diplomatic ties with China as it prioritizes U.S. relations, signaling a reversal of her pre-election stance.

Castro appears to have won the country’s elections by a large margin. Her main rival has conceded. It is part of a growing number of countries which maintains relations with Taiwan.

Castro’s pledge to maintain diplomatic relations with Taiwan, prompted some jostling between Beijing and Washington with each trying to exert influence on the Central American nation.

According to Salvador Nasralla, the runner-up of the Honduran 2017 presidential election who is set to be one of Castro’s three vice presidents, any relations with China had to be weighed against ties with the United States.

When asked if Honduras would establish relations with China, Nasralla said: “No.”

“There are no relations with China, relations continue with Taiwan,” he said.

“Our trade ally, our close ally, our historical ally is the United States. We don’t want to fight with the United States, the United States is our main trade ally.”

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