Sawt Falasteen - Taiwan welcomes Paraguay leader as China ramps up pressure

Taipei has only 12 diplomatic allies after Beijing, which claims Taiwan is part of its territory, systematically poached the others in a bid to isolate the self-governed island.

Pena is leading a delegation of government officials and business representatives on a four-day visit, and has described the island as a "fundamental partner" for the South American country.

President Lai Ching-te officially welcomed Pena on Friday with military honours, including cannon salutes and red carpet, ahead of a sit-down meeting.

Addressing the military parade under grey skies, Lai thanked Pena and his government "for long speaking up for Taiwan on the international stage".

"Taiwan and Paraguay are partners firmly committed to the values of democracy, freedom and human rights," Lai said.

Pena said: "Paraguay deeply values this relationship and reaffirms its commitment to continue supporting Taiwan in a strategic alliance based on shared values."

Since arriving Thursday, Pena has met with Taiwan's vice president and other senior government ministers, and received an honorary doctorate from the National Taiwan University of Science and Technology, which he hailed as a reflection of the "solid alliance" between Taiwan and Paraguay.

- 'Intense pressure' -

During his meeting with Lai, Pena condemned Chinese military and economic pressure on Taiwan, and insisted Taipei has a "sovereign right to engage freely with other countries".

Paraguay and Taiwan were to sign agreements on mutual legal assistance in criminal matters, cooperation in cybersecurity, as well as an AI and computing infrastructure investment project.

Pena's visit comes days after Lai returned from an official trip to Eswatini, Taiwan's only ally in Africa.

Taiwan has accused China of trying to stop Lai's visit to Eswatini by applying "intense pressure" to the Seychelles, Mauritius and Madagascar to revoke overflight permits for his original trip, which had been scheduled for April 22-26 and was cancelled at the last minute.

Lai end up using the Eswatini king's plane to make the journey.

Lai's last official overseas trip was in November 2024, when he visited Taiwan's Pacific allies and transited through the US territory of Guam.

Pena had announced in July 2025 that Lai would visit Paraguay the following month. But Trump's administration reportedly denied Lai permission to transit through New York last year as part of an official trip to Latin America.

Taiwan's foreign ministry denied that he was blocked.

K.AbuTaha--SF-PST