Paraguay’s incoming President Santiago Pena mentioned on Wednesday that his nation will aspect with Taiwan throughout his five-year time period, reaffirming it as Taipei’s solely diplomatic ally in South America.
Asuncion is without doubt one of the few remaining capitals within the Latin American area that also acknowledges Taiwan after Beijing, which claims the island as its territory, spent a long time convincing the island’s allies to modify sides.
Pena’s journey to Taipei takes place about 5 weeks earlier than he takes workplace. The president-elect mentioned the timing “was not a coincidence.”
“I come to… reaffirm my dedication, our dedication as Paraguayans to be on the aspect of the individuals of Taiwan for the following 5 years,” he mentioned in a speech at Taiwan’s Presidential Workplace.
Pena additionally praised President Tsai Ing-wen for “understanding that rules and values are non-negotiable” and mentioned her administration will work with Taiwan on future investments to make sure “mutual financial profit for each nations.”
The previous finance minister had vowed on the marketing campaign path to proceed recognizing Taiwan.
Pena’s victory in Might eased fears in Taipei that Paraguay would divest its ties in favor of Beijing, an more and more frequent phenomenon as China ratchets up stress on Taiwan.
From Taiwan to China
Panama, El Salvador, the Dominican Republic, Nicaragua and Honduras have switched diplomatic recognition from Taiwan to China lately.
Beijing doesn’t enable its personal diplomatic allies to additionally acknowledge Taipei, which has solely formal alliances with 13 international locations around the globe.
Pena mentioned that he studied in Taiwan in 1999 and that he introduced “the love and affection of all of the Paraguayan individuals.” She additionally prolonged an invite to Tsai to go to Paraguay after he leaves workplace subsequent yr.
Tsai, having served two phrases, is constitutionally barred from operating for workplace once more.
Vice President William Lai, who additionally met Pena on Wednesday, is the candidate of the ruling Democratic Progressive Occasion within the January elections.
Chinese language air and naval workout routines
Tsai has been in workplace since 2016 and her two phrases have been marked by a pointy deterioration in relations with an more and more assertive China.
Beijing has refused to interact with it as a result of it doesn’t settle for that the island is a part of China.
China has additionally elevated its navy presence round Taiwan, with its fighter jets making virtually day by day sorties into the Taipei air protection zone and sending its ships into the waters across the island.
