Photo: Congreso Nacional Paraguay.
Paraguay’s Senate approved a resolution requiring the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to submit a detailed report explaining the rationale behind the country’s current foreign policy, which prevents the establishment of diplomatic and commercial relations with the People’s Republic of China. The request specifies that the report should outline the political, economic, social, and cultural reasons supporting this position, as lawmakers reopen debate on Paraguay’s diplomatic alignment.
Paraguay is currently the only country in South America that officially recognizes Taiwan, a decision that automatically excludes the possibility of formal ties with Beijing under the “One China” principle. This long-standing position has often been justified by successive governments as a matter of continuity and loyalty in foreign policy, but critics argue that it isolates Paraguay from opportunities in trade, investment, and access to international markets where China plays a dominant role.
During the session, Senator Éver Villalba of the Liberal Party argued that Paraguay’s stance should be reconsidered, emphasizing that China accounts for a significant share of national imports and is a major global power in both trade and technological development. According to Villalba, maintaining exclusive ties with Taiwan may come at the cost of missing out on key economic opportunities at a time when other Latin American nations have deepened relations with Beijing.
The Senate’s resolution also asks the Foreign Ministry to clarify whether China has made any formal or informal diplomatic overtures to Paraguay in recent years. This question has become increasingly relevant as more countries in the region have moved closer to Beijing, while Asunción continues to uphold its traditional partnership with Taipei.
Although the request does not trigger an immediate policy change, it compels the executive branch to provide clear explanations and opens the door to a broader national debate on whether Paraguay should maintain its traditional stance or move toward establishing relations with mainland China. The outcome of this discussion could mark a turning point in the country’s diplomatic orientation and redefine its role in the international arena.
* Original text in Spanish. Translated by Large Language Model (LLM) technology.
Main Source:
Senado pide informe a Cancillería del por qué Paraguay no establece relaciones con China Continental – El Nacional
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