The president of Paraguay, Santiago Penaarrived at Taiwan to attend this Monday the investiture ceremony of William Lai as the new president of the island.
This was announced by the Presidency of Paraguaywhich indicated that the president arrived this Sunday morning in Taiwanese territory from USA.
Peña was received by the island’s chancellor, Joseph Wuaccording to images released by the Paraguayan Government.
The head of state traveled accompanied by his foreign ministers, Ruben Ramirez; of Information and Communication Technologies, Gustavo Villate; and Industry and Commerce, Javier Gimenezand the head of the Chamber of Deputies of the South American country, Raúl Latorre.
Lai, then vice president, was one of those invited to the transfer of command in Paraguay on August 15, 2023, a ceremony in which Peña was sworn in as president.
Paraguay is the only country of South America which has official ties with Taiwan and one of the 12 States that maintains diplomatic support for Taipei.
Beijing considers Taiwan part of its territory and demands that Paraguay break with the island as a condition to establish diplomatic relations.
He bilateral trade with China is developed through third countries with a deficit of 3 billion dollars in the trade balance, according to the Central Bank, a fact claimed by the local agricultural sector that is not satisfied with having achieved the export of meat products to Taiwan.
President Peña reiterated this week before traveling to Washington his support for the foreign policy of the United States, Israel and Taiwan.
In Washington, he had an agenda of meetings with parliamentarians who aimed to unblock obstacles in Congress that prevent the export of meat to the United States, which has already received support from that country’s Executive.
Peña also met with security authorities and businessmen in the technology sector, among others.
“We do not come to ask for donations, but rather to have us on the map and help us so that the country has greater and greater visibility, mainly in terms of its potential. “Paraguay has very good macroeconomic numbers,” the head of state said in a message during a meeting with North American legislators.
In addition, the president indicated that he spoke with the advisor of Joe Biden about his country’s fight against corruption and in favor of institutional strengthening.
Likewise, he considered the contacts with American congressmenamong them the senator Marco Rubio and representatives Mario Díaz-Balart, Mónica De La Cruz, Henry Cuéllar, Babulal de Amerish ‘Ami’ Bera and María Elvira Salazar, among others.
Since the triumph of William Lai In the elections of January 13, China has maintained its hostilities campaign on Taiwan, through a series of measures aimed at conditioning the next Taiwanese Government.
Considered an “independence supporter” by the Beijing regime, Lai will take office as president on May 20 after an inauguration ceremony at the Taiwan presidential palacewhere he will give a speech that will be followed very closely by the Chinese authorities.
During the time between the elections and his inauguration, Lai has reiterated on several occasions his offer of dialogue to China “without preconditions”, a position rejected by the Chinese regime, for which such dialogue is only possible around to the “one China” principle.
(With information from EFE and AFP)
