Visiting speaker of Paraguay’s lower house on Monday expressed hope that his country’s diplomatic ties with Taiwan will continue and be supported by its people, following a recent statement by a Paraguayan presidential candidate that he would change the country’s allegiance to China once he wins the April election.

President of the Paraguayan Chamber of Deputies Carlos María López made the remarks during his meeting with President Tsai Ing-wen (???) in the Presidential Office on Monday morning.

In his address, López thanked Taiwan’s government for arranging the ongoing visit of his delegation, which consisted of lawmakers from ruling and opposition parties.

Paraguay and Taiwan, officially named the Republic of China, have maintained official diplomatic relations for over 65 years, he said, adding that the shared friendship and democratic values have bounded the two allies together despite the long distance between them.

He expressed gratitude on behalf of his government toward Taiwan for the latter’s assistance on all fronts, including by offering scholarships to young Paraguayan students to study in Taiwan.

López said his cross-party delegation’s joint visit to Taiwan serves as an example that democracies are able to respect each other and respect the decisions made by their voters.

He said he sincerely hoped that the two sides’ long-term diplomatic ties will be strengthened in years to come, while calling on voters to support the relations so that the two countries would continue to work closely in the international community.

In her address, Tsai reaffirmed both allies’ ties as being as solid as ever during hers and President Mario Abdo Benítez’s ongoing tenure.

She said her first overseas state visit since assuming office in May 2016 was to visit Paraguay while President Abdo also made Taiwan his first destination after taking office in 2018.

Tsai also noted that bilateral trade has seen a historic high between January and October in 2022, reaching US$22 million despite the COVID-19 pandemic.

She called López and his delegates “good friends of Taiwan,” while expressing hope that both countries could continue to join hands in the future.

The delegation led by López arrived in Taiwan on Sunday for a five-day visit.

Other members of the delegation include Edgar Espínola Guerrero, chairperson of the committee on national defense, security and intelligence; Teófilo Espínola Peralta, who leads the committee on social development and housing; and Rodrigo Daniel Blanco Amarilla, chairperson of the committee on childhood and youth development.

The visit came days after Efrain Alegre, the presidential candidate of a broad coalition that will seek to defeat the conservative ruling Colorado Party, told the media last week that he would cut diplomatic ties with Taiwan and recognize China instead if the opposition wins the April 30 election, hoping the decision would boost soy and beef exports that are its main economic engines.

“Paraguay must have relations with China,” Alegre was quoted as saying in a Reuters story published on Jan. 5.

“Our interests in livestock and grain sectors are currently suffering a major loss,” he added. “We hold this critical position towards relations with Taiwan because we don’t think we get enough back from this relationship.”

Santiago Pena, the Colorado Party candidate, meanwhile, said Paraguay’s over six decades of ties with Taiwan would remain intact if he won the April 30 vote.

“I do not see any change in that sense,” Pena told Reuters. “I will defend the historical relationship with Taiwan.”

Paraguay is the only diplomatic ally of Taiwan located in South America, among a total of 14 states that diplomatically recognize Taipei instead of Beijing.

Also on Monday, Tsai received a 12-member delegation from Taiwan’s Pacific ally Tuvalu, led by speaker of the Parliament Samuelu Penitala Teo.

In their meeting, Teo promised that his country, the first among all Pacific countries to recognize Taipei in 1979, will continue to stay with Taiwan.

Teo thanked Taiwan for medical and budgetary support made during the pandemic, which assisted his government to vaccinate Tuvalu people to contain the spread of COVID-19.

Such generosity demonstrates Taiwan’s ability and openness to helping its neighbors, allies and countries in need, he said.

He said Tuvalu-Taiwan ties are based on shared values, reaffirming that both allies will continue to work in partnership as Tuvalu will “continue to be steadfast and support for Taiwan’s bid to be an observer in international organizations.”

Since Tsai came to office, Taiwan has lost eight diplomatic allies to China, namely Burkina Faso, the Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Kiribati, Nicaragua, Panama, Sao Tome and Principe, and the Solomon Islands, amid deteriorating cross-Taiwan Strait relations.

Among the eight, four of them, Nicaragua, Panama, the Dominican Republic, and El Salvador, are located in the Latin America and Caribbean region.

Source: Focus Taiwan News Channel