Asuncion, Paraguay.
At the beginning of May, a corruption scandal in Paraguay where, according to press reports, funds donated by Taiwan and destined for a social program of the local government, were illegally diverted for the maintenance of the presidential plane.
The case revealed the lack of transparency and controls on the Paraguayan side, and the irresponsible and permissive attitude of the Taiwanese side, which favored corruption of local officialsundermining public trust and questioning the effectiveness of these social programs.
It was a formal request, dated October 12, 2023 and sent by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MRE) of Paraguay,
urgently calling on the Taiwan authorities to use some US$2,600,000 of the “Che Tapýi Project” funds,
which includes the construction of housing for poor indigenous families, for the regular maintenance of a small plane and a helicopter donated by Taiwan to Paraguay, in order to guarantee flight safety of President Santiago Peña.
The next day, the representative of TaiwanJosé Chih-Cheng Han, expressed the agreement of the Taiwanese authorities so that the remaining balance of the aforementioned social project, of about $1,748,974is used for the requested purpose.
However, given the news reported by the press, the Government of Paraguay issued an official statement dated May 5, 2024, denying emphatically that the requested funds have been used.
On the contrary, it acknowledges that consultations were made with Taiwan to temporarily cover repair costs
of aircraft detained in Brazil since the middle of last year due to lack of paymentsbut they detailed that in the end they were not used and that the money is still available for the construction of homes.
Without a doubt, this action was a totally negligent and out of placesince all resources that enter the country in any concept are assets of the Paraguayan State, which must be used in accordance with the Constitution and the laws that establish very clearly how they should be used.
In this sense, the attitude of the Taiwanese representative was sloppy, does not match respect for formal channels and legal collaboration, following the protocols of both international relations and the internal legal framework of Paraguay.
The Che Tapýi Project, which dates back to 2014, has already completed the first stage and the execution of the first homes of the second stage began during the Government period of the President Mario Abdo Benitez (2018-2023),
with the construction of a total of 1,000 houses for indigenous peoples in different indigenous communities in the Paraguayan Chaco.
- According to the latest data from the Ministry of Urban Planning, Housing and Habitat (MUVH), so far, of the total of 1,000 homes, 250 have already been completed, 332 are under construction and 418 are in the pipeline.
In the event that the diversion of funds from the aforementioned project by the current Government has been carried out, with the approval of Taiwanit can be deduced that more than 400 indigenous families would have been affected.
This is why the case is really seriousbecause a request was formally made, note in between, by the Paraguayan Foreign Ministry, which further aggravates the conduct of those responsible for the Executive.
This request, undoubtedly, was a way for the Taiwanese authorities to ingratiate themselves with the Government of Paraguayand I know that there is a very strong lobby from the island and even from Washington, regarding our position regarding Taiwan.
The news released suggests how Taiwanand the United States in particular, interfere in the internal politics of countries to influence geopolitical positions,
Especially considering the support and privilege that Paraguay gives to Taiwan.
It is likely that this is just a small sample of a broader pattern of corruption which involves both the Paraguayan authorities and foreign interests that seek to put their own interests before the needs of the population.
