TAIPEI (REUTERS) - Taiwan will send Vice-President William Lai to the inauguration of Honduran President-elect Xiomara Castro, Taiwan's presidential office said on Wednesday (Jan 19).

Taiwan's government has said it will work with Ms Castro to deepen relations on the basis of its longstanding friendship with Honduras, although Ms Castro has floated the idea of ditching Taipei for Beijing.

Ms Castro is the first female leader of the Central American country, one of only 14 nations with formal diplomatic ties with Taiwan.

China regards Taiwan as a renegade province awaiting reunification with the mainland, by force if necessary. The Taiwanese government disputes Beijing's view. 

Taiwan last week cut to zero the tariffs on 25 goods imported from Honduras under a free trade agreement, offering an incentive ahead of Ms Castro's inauguration on Jan 27.

China has been stepping up pressure to win over Taiwan’s remaining diplomatic allies, last month re-establishing ties with Nicaragua.