Ma is scheduled to visit Republic of China diplomatic ally Honduras

Ma and a small entourage will depart Jan. 25 and make a one-night layover in San Francisco before heading to the Honduran capital of Tegucigalpa, MOFA officials said.

On his fourth visit to Central America since taking office in May 2008, Ma will be accompanied only by several key officials, including National Security Council Secretary-General Su Chi and Minister of Foreign Affairs Timothy Yang.

First lady Chow Mei-ching will not accompany him, nor will any business entrepreneurs or leading cultural and literati figures, MOFA officials said.

Besides a dinner with U.S.-based Taiwanese expatriates, no public activities will be scheduled for Ma during his stopover in San Francisco, although he will have telephone conversations with some “U.S. friends” over issues of mutual concern, the officials said.

Ma is scheduled to return to Taiwan Jan. 30 after making a short layover in Los Angeles. He will not stay the night there but will take a night flight home, the officials added.

So far, the greatest variables on the president's forthcoming overseas trip are matters that include the whereabouts of former Honduran President Manuel Zelaya, who was ousted in a military coup in Honduras in June 2009, and whether or not interim President Roberto Micheletti will step down prior to Lobo's inauguration, the officials said.

“We are closely monitoring the situation,” they noted.

Ma visited Panama, the Dominican Republic, Belize, Guatemala, El Salvador, Paraguay and Nicaragua during his three previous visits to Central America.

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