BELMOPAN, April 4 (AFP) - Taiwan's president Tsai Ing-wen departed Belize on Tuesday at the close of her Central American tour, in which she promised support to Taipei's few remaining allies in the region and denounced Chinese "pressure."

Tsai's plane departed Belize City at 2:00 pm (2000 GMT), according to state TV.

She has announced plans to travel to the United States and meet with US House Speaker Kevin McCarthy in California on her way home, angering Beijing.

The top Republican confirmed he would meet Tsai on Wednesday, defying warnings from China that he was "playing with fire."

On her tour, Tsai visited Guatemala and Belize, Taiwan's only remaining allies in Central America after Honduras broke with Taipei to join Beijing in late March.

Nicaragua shifted its allegiance to Beijing in 2021, El Salvador in 2018, Panama in 2017 and Costa Rica in 2007.

Only 13 countries currently maintain diplomatic ties with Taiwan.

China considers self-ruled, democratic Taiwan part of its territory to be retaken one day, and does not allow other countries to recognize both Beijing and Taipei.