Paraguayan President Affirms Ties with Taiwan, Calls for More Investment

Why It Matters

Paraguay’s steadfast alliance with Taiwan strengthens Taipei’s diplomatic foothold in Latin America while showcasing a diversification strategy that challenges China’s growing influence in the region.

Key Takeaways

• Paraguay reaffirms diplomatic ties with Taiwan, pledging deeper cooperation.
• President Santiago emphasizes shared values and historical resilience with Taiwan.
• Upcoming announcements include AI, cloud projects and major investment deals.
• Paraguay cites economic diversification over reliance on China’s market.
• President warns of PRC pressure, underscores strategic independence.

Summary

Paraguayan President Santiago Pérez Cáceres used a state visit to Taipei to reaffirm his country’s official diplomatic relationship with Taiwan, announcing a new round of high‑level agreements and promising further investment. The meeting, his fourth trip to the island, underscores Paraguay’s commitment to remain one of the few Latin American nations that recognize Taiwan instead of the People’s Republic of China.

During the interview, the president highlighted shared historical hardships – Paraguay’s 19th‑century war that wiped out 90 % of its male population and Taiwan’s ongoing threat from mainland China – as a foundation for mutual values of self‑determination, liberty and perseverance. He cited Paraguay’s recent economic performance, with GDP growth above 5 % for three consecutive years, far outpacing the region’s average of 1‑2 %, and framed diversification into technology sectors such as artificial intelligence and cloud computing as the next growth engine.

Notable remarks included his description of Taiwan’s “passion and commitment” and the claim that “Paraguay has been the fastest‑growing country in Latin America for a decade.” He also warned that PRC diplomatic overtures aim to lure Paraguay away, but argued that reliance on a single massive market would undermine national sovereignty and long‑term development.

The reaffirmation carries weight for regional geopolitics: it signals continued resistance to Beijing’s diplomatic isolation campaign, promises a pipeline of Taiwanese tech investment, and offers a model for other small economies seeking growth through diversified partnerships rather than dependence on China’s market. The upcoming AI and cloud agreements could accelerate Paraguay’s digital transformation and deepen Taiwan’s foothold in South America.

Original Description

In an exclusive interview with CNA, Paraguayan President Santiago Peña reaffirmed his country's diplomatic ties with Taiwan during a visit to Taipei from Thursday to Sunday, saying he recently shared Paraguay's positive experience of maintaining relations with Taiwan with Honduran President Nasry Asfura during a meeting in Los Angeles.

Peña called for increased Taiwanese private investment in Paraguay during his state visit, describing the South American country as a stable and fast-growing gateway to the Latin American market.

He also highlighted the potential of combining Paraguay's energy resources with Taiwan's advanced semiconductor technology, calling it "a perfect match."

#taiwan #paraguay

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