Santiago Peña celebrates 69 years of Taiwan ties, ratifies alliance amid China pressure

President Santiago Peña celebrated the 69th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Paraguay and Taiwan, reaffirming the nation's steadfast alliance with Taipei. Peña emphasized Paraguay's unique position as Taiwan's only strategic partner in South America, a commitment that persists despite significant diplomatic and economic pressure from China.

"The solid alliance between Paraguay and Taiwan is a true example of cooperation and mutual respect," Peña stated on social media. He highlighted the nearly seven decades of shared progress and reiterated the commitment to continue working together for the development and prosperity of both nations. The Taiwanese Embassy in Paraguay responded, thanking the president for the political support and emphasizing the friendship built on mutual respect and a shared vision for development.

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The solid alliance between Paraguay and Taiwan is a true example of cooperation and mutual respect. Today we celebrate a new anniversary of our diplomatic relations, reaffirming the firm commitment to continue working together to drive the development, prosperity and continuous progress of both nations.

Paraguay remains one of only 12 countries worldwide that officially recognize Taiwan. The People's Republic of China has intensified its efforts to isolate Taiwan internationally, pressuring its allies to sever ties. Despite internal calls in Paraguay to open trade with Beijing, Peña's administration has consistently defended the relationship with Taipei, citing shared democratic values.

Cooperation between the two nations focuses on key areas including education, professional training, technological innovation, healthcare, and trade. Bilateral business relations are currently thriving, marked by initiatives such as Paraguay's first export of chicken meat to Taiwan and ongoing dialogues on projects like the Paraguay-Taiwan AI data center.

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Thank you, Mr. President! 69 years of friendship, built on mutual respect and a shared vision of development. Let's continue working together to generate even more benefits for our peoples.