"Guatemalan Presidential Candidate Shocks with Anti-Corruption Platform, Seeks Closer Ties with China"

Bernardo Arevalo, an anti-corruption presidential candidate in Guatemala who secured a spot in the runoff vote in August, has expressed his intention to pursue closer relations with China if he wins. Guatemala has historically maintained ties with Taiwan, but China has been successful in peeling off some of Taiwan's allies in recent years. Arevalo emphasized the need for a foreign policy based on Guatemala's interests and stated that no one else should dictate the country's position. His opponent, Sandra Torres, has promised to maintain Guatemala's ties with Taiwan. The United States, Guatemala's top trading partner, has been trying to prevent further diplomatic losses for Taiwan in the region.