TAIPEI, Taiwan — Santiago Peña, Paraguay’s president, touched down in Taiwan Thursday, marking his inaugural journey to the disputed island that China considers part of its territory.
As Taiwan’s sole remaining diplomatic ally in South America and among just 12 nations worldwide that maintain formal ties with Taipei, Paraguay finds itself at the center of an intensifying diplomatic struggle. Beijing has escalated efforts in recent years to convince Taiwan’s partners to switch their allegiance.
Despite maintaining robust commercial ties with China, Paraguay has consistently reinforced its diplomatic allegiance to Taiwan.
According to Taiwan’s Foreign Ministry, Peña is heading a business mission featuring representatives from agricultural and financial sectors during his Thursday through Sunday stay.
On Friday, Taiwan’s President Lai Ching-te plans to receive Peña with full military ceremonial honors.
This diplomatic visit unfolds against a backdrop of escalating Chinese aggression toward the island democracy, with Beijing routinely dispatching military aircraft and naval vessels near Taiwan’s borders almost daily.
Taiwan continues working to strengthen its global diplomatic footprint amid these challenges.
Just last week, Lai traveled to Eswatini, Taiwan’s final African diplomatic partner, after initially delaying the journey when multiple nations reportedly denied overflight permissions due to Chinese influence.
While Beijing neither confirmed nor refuted these claims, officials praised countries for upholding the “one China principle,” referencing China’s territorial assertions over Taiwan.
The two territories have operated under separate governments since 1949, following the Communist Party’s victory in Beijing after civil conflict. Defeated Nationalist forces retreated to Taiwan, which eventually evolved from military rule into a democratic system.
