Taiwan President Ma to visit Africa, Central America

Taiwan President Ma Ying-jeou will visit Africa and Central America during the last week of this month to consolidate ties with several of the island's 22 diplomatic allies, the government said Tuesday.

Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Simon Ko told reporters that Ma will embark on the eight-day trip on Jan. 23 and arrive back in Taiwan on Jan. 30.

He said the main purpose of the presidential trip is to attend the inauguration ceremony for Honduras President-elect Juan Orlando Hernandez on Jan. 27.

Before traveling to Honduras -- one of Taiwan's 12 diplomatic allies in Latin America and the Caribbean -- Ma will visit the two African nations of Burkina Faso and Sao Tome and Principe.

Gambia's surprise diplomatic break with Taiwan in November last year has left it with only three diplomatic allies in Africa -- Burkina Faso, Sao Tome and Principe, and Swaziland.

Taiwan also has diplomatic ties with six island-states in the South Pacific, as well as with the Vatican.

Taiwan and mainland China have been governed separately since they split amid a civil war in 1949. Beijing has since then endeavored to diplomatically isolate Taiwan, which it regards as a renegade province awaiting reunification.