Is Taiwan about to lose Paraguay, its last ally in South America?
- Polls have candidates neck-and-neck in presidential race, with the opposition’s Efrain Alegre pledging to cut ties with Taipei
- Whoever wins, there is growing pressure from Paraguay’s largest economic sectors for a switch in diplomatic relations to Beijing
Alegre, leader of the Authentic Radical Liberal Party, pledged in January that he would forge relations with Beijing if he wins the presidency on April 30. His main opponent, the ruling Colorado Party’s Santiago Pena, intends to maintain the long-held status quo.
In Alegre’s view, ties with Taipei bring little benefit, while barring Paraguayan soy and beef exports from the Chinese mainland. “Paraguay must have relations with China,” he said in an interview with Reuters in January.
While Alegre and Pena are locked in a neck-and-neck race, many analysts believe the pro-Beijing candidate stands a good chance, especially with the ruling party mired in corruption allegations.
Beijing views Taiwan as a breakaway province with no right to build official ties with other governments.
Most countries do not recognise the island as an independent state but Paraguay, which established diplomatic relations with Taiwan in 1957, is one of 13 that maintains ties with Taipei.
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