Guatemala pledges support for Taiwan, China accuses island of 'political manipulation'

Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen meets Guatemala's Foreign Minister Mario Bucaro at the presidential office in Taipei, Taiwan in this handout released August 30, 2022. Taiwan Presidential Office/Handout via REUTERS

Guatemalan Foreign Minister Mario Bucaro said on Tuesday that the Central American country will "always support" Taiwan, after China conducted its largest-ever military drills around the self-ruled island earlier this month.

Meeting Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen at the presidential office in Taipei, Bucaro said that Guatemala and Taiwan were "like-minded countries" united by a "democratic alliance".