Taiwan's top diplomat has landed in Belize for a fifth visit, a routine but meaningful sign that one of Taipei's few remaining diplomatic allies is holding firm.

• Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung arrived in Belize after a long flight with stopovers, leading a delegation.
• He is set to meet Governor-General Froyla Tzalam, Prime Minister John Briceño, and Foreign Minister Francis Fonseca.
• Belize's deputy foreign minister greeted him at the plane, and Belize's ambassador to Taiwan flew home early to meet the group at the airport — an unusually warm welcome.
• The trip is meant to check on how joint projects between the two countries are working out on the ground.
• Belize is one of a shrinking number of countries that still recognize Taiwan over China, which makes these visits a quiet contest for influence in Central America.

Outlook: Expect announcements on cooperation deals and continued Taiwanese effort to keep its handful of allies from switching to Beijing.