Photo: Pixabay.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China has urged Paraguay to stand “on the right side of history” after Paraguayan president Santiago Peña stated that his country will continue exporting soybeans to China despite maintaining diplomatic ties with Taiwan.
Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian refuted Peña’s claims, stating that China, as the world’s largest soybean importer, has not recorded any imports of this product from Paraguay in recent years according to official statistics. “The Government of Paraguay must stop playing word games,” declared Lin, emphasizing the ‘One China’ principle of and calling on Paraguay to recognize the “global trend.”
However, the presidential spokeswoman of Paraguay, Paula Carro, reaffirmed Peña’s statement and said that “Paraguay and mainland China maintain bilateral trade.” She added that China “is one of the main suppliers and Paraguay exports food to China through its intermediaries”.
Diplomatic tension escalated following the visit of Paraguay’s Minister of Information and Communication Technologies, Gustavo Villate, to Taiwan earlier this month, where he reaffirmed his country’s support for the island. Villate emphasized the importance of friendship with Taiwan and its commitment to democratic values and freedom of expression, prompting a response from China reaffirming its position regarding Taiwan as an integral part of its territory.
Additionally, the Chinese Foreign Ministry expressed dissatisfaction with Paraguay’s recent gestures towards Taiwan, such as the elimination of tariffs for Paraguayan pork, further strengthening ties between the two countries. These actions pose a direct challenge to China, which has sought to diplomatically isolate Taiwan and consolidate its influence in the region.
Paraguay, which established relations with Taiwan in 1957, is the only country in South America with official diplomatic ties to the island. This relationship has been a source of conflict with China, which insists on its exclusive international recognition.
The dispute between Paraguay and China adds to the pressure on Mercosur countries, especially Argentina and Uruguay, which maintain full commercial and diplomatic ties with China. Meanwhile, Paraguay’s position on the international stage continues to generate debate, with some advocating for the severance of ties with Taiwan in favor of greater access to the Chinese market.
Main source:
Xi desmiente a Peña sobre la exportación de soja paraguaya a China y lo apura por la relación con Taiwán | La Política Online (2024, marzo 25). https://www.lapoliticaonline.com/paraguay/economia-py/285801/
Other related sources:
China refuta al presidente de Paraguay y le pide ponerse en “lado correcto de la historia”
| Infobae (2024, Marzo 25). https://www.infobae.com/america/agencias/2024/03/25/china-refuta-al-presidente-de-paraguay-y-le-pide-ponerse-en-lado-correcto-de-la-historia/
Presidente de Paraguay dice que vende soja a China y genera tensión diplomática con Beijín. | Todo El Campo (2024, Marzo 26). https://todoelcampo.com.uy/2024/03/presidente-de-paraguay-dice-que-vende-soja-a-china-y-genera-tension-diplomatica-con-beijin/