During an official visit to Taipei this Friday, Paraguay’s President Santiago Pena emphasized his nation’s strong commitment to maintaining diplomatic relations with Taiwan, even as China intensifies pressure to sever those ties.
Taiwan’s President Lai Ching-te formally welcomed Pena in a ceremony where both leaders highlighted their shared democratic principles. Paraguay stands among just 12 nations worldwide that recognize Taiwan diplomatically, and represents Taiwan’s final diplomatic partner in South America as well as its largest ally by geographic size.
This marks Pena’s second presidential visit to the self-governing island that Beijing considers part of its territory. China made a direct appeal Thursday urging Paraguay to cut its Taiwan connections.
During the welcoming ceremony, Pena made clear his position on the partnership. “Paraguay deeply values this relationship and reiterates its commitment to continue supporting Taiwan in a strategic alliance based on shared values such as democracy, freedom, human rights, and the rule of law,” he stated.
President Lai responded by acknowledging Paraguay’s consistent international advocacy for Taiwan. “The Paraguayan government has long spoken up for Taiwan in the international arena and firmly supports Taiwan’s international participation,” Lai remarked.
“I believe that through President Pena’s visit this time, the friendship between Taiwan and Paraguay will become even deeper and cooperation even closer,” the Taiwan leader added.
Pena maintains strong connections with Washington, having visited the U.S. capital in February for President Donald Trump’s new peace board initiative, where Trump referred to him as a “young handsome guy.”
Beijing maintains that Taiwan constitutes a Chinese province without sovereign rights, a stance that Lai’s administration firmly rejects.
Paraguay’s leadership has consistently emphasized that its Taiwan relationship stems from common democratic principles. However, China has intensified its diplomatic outreach to Paraguayan officials, with a March Reuters investigation revealing that over a dozen Paraguayan legislators, media figures, and opposition leaders have traveled to China since late 2023, sparking internal discussions about potential economic consequences of the Taiwan relationship.
