Paraguay's President Santiago Pena arrived in Taiwan on Thursday for his first visit to the self-ruled island, which Beijing claims as its own territory. Paraguay is the last country in South America and one of only 12 nations worldwide to maintain official diplomatic recognition of Taiwan.
Strengthening Ties with Taipei
Paraguay has a solid trade relationship with China but has reaffirmed its commitment to Taipei as its diplomatic partner. Pena is leading a business delegation from sectors such as agriculture and finance during his visit from Thursday to Sunday, according to Taiwan's Foreign Ministry. Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te is scheduled to welcome Pena with military honors on Friday.
China's Growing Pressure
The visit comes as Beijing has intensified pressure on the island democracy, including sending warplanes and navy vessels toward Taiwan on a near-daily basis. China, which has not ruled out the use of force to annex Taiwan, has been ramping up a campaign over the past few years to lure away Taiwan's diplomatic allies.
Taiwan's International Outreach
Taiwan has sought to assert its presence internationally. Last week, President Lai visited the southern African nation of Eswatini, Taipei's last remaining diplomatic partner in Africa. He had been forced to postpone the trip after several countries withdrew permission for him to fly over their territories, reportedly due to Chinese pressure. China neither confirmed nor denied the allegations but expressed 'high appreciation' for the countries' adherence to the so-called 'one China principle,' which refers to Beijing's claims over Taiwan.
Historical Context
China and Taiwan have been governed separately since 1949, when the Communist Party rose to power in Beijing following a civil war. The defeated Nationalist Party forces fled to Taiwan, which later transitioned from martial law to a multiparty democracy.
