The Frente Guasú, a leftist coalition, issued a statement on Wednesday warning that President Santiago Peña's foreign policy is “handing over the national future” by maintaining exclusive diplomatic relations with Taiwan, while the United States moves closer to China. For the coalition, Paraguay is going against history as the only South American country not to recognize the People's Republic of China.
In the document, the Frente Guasú highlights that even the United Nations considers Taiwan a Chinese province and that US President Donald Trump himself attended a summit in Beijing with Chinese leader Xi Jinping. “After showering praise on the Chinese ruler, Trump bluntly stated that, from now on, he will distance himself from Taiwan's intentions to achieve independence,” the text says.
In contrast, Peña maintains his position with Taiwan, turning his back on an economy that could become the world's largest. The Frente Guasú classifies Paraguay's international policy as “obsolete” and capable of leading the country backward. “The People's Republic of China, as the most industrialized country in the world, is the largest buyer of raw materials. Our country, with its primarily primary production, could have a gigantic market for its products, but today it must resort to triangulation, which implies a huge disadvantage compared to countries in the region that have diplomatic relations with the Asian giant,” the statement emphasizes.
The leftist coalition calls on the president to begin changing his policy before it is too late. “The Frente Guasú, consistent with its policy of prioritizing national interests, demands that the government of Santiago Peña, before it is too late, review its international policy and establish diplomatic relations with what is already the world's leading power, before China is unified and Taiwan's status as a province is confirmed,” it concludes.