Taiwan could soon only have twelve allies: After the presidential elections in South American Paraguay, the possible winner wants to turn to China.
Munich/Taipei – Only 13 countries worldwide still officially recognize the government in Taipei – the overwhelming majority of the international community only maintains diplomatic relations with the People's Republic of China instead of with Taiwan.
In just a few weeks, the number of Taiwan's allies could shrink further: Efrain Alegre, the most promising opposition candidate in the upcoming presidential elections in Paraguay, wants to switch sides if he wins the elections.
Taiwanese Foreign Minister Joseph Wu said in Taipei that Alegre's comments "certainly caused some confusion".
You try everything to not lose Paraguay as a partner.
"Our colleagues in Paraguay have very close ties with the political parties, the camps and the candidates," Wu continued.
“Paraguay has long-standing relationships with us, and these relationships are also very stable.
We will do our best to maintain diplomatic relations with Paraguay."
Taiwan: "Paraguay must maintain relations with China"
Beijing regards Taiwan as a renegade province and wants to "reunite" the democratically governed country with the People's Republic - as peacefully as possible, but if necessary with violence, as state and party leader Xi Jinping has repeatedly made clear.
According to Beijing's "One China Principle," states that maintain diplomatic relations with the People's Republic of China are also not allowed to recognize the Taiwanese government.
China and Taiwan: That's what the conflict is about
China and Taiwan: That's what the conflict is about
According to opposition candidate Alegre, moving to Beijing would have economic advantages for his country.
According to OECD data from 2021, soybeans and soy products as well as beef are among Paraguay's most important exports.
So far, the South American country has mainly exported to Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Russia and India.
Alegre now wants to conquer the lucrative Chinese market - but this is only possible if Paraguay and China establish diplomatic relations.
He was disappointed by Taiwan: "We have this critical attitude towards relations with Taiwan because we believe that we are not getting enough back from this relationship," Alegre said a few months ago.
"Paraguay must maintain relations with China."
Paraguay will elect a new president at the end of April.
Polls currently see Alegre level with incumbent Santiago Pena.
He wants to "defend historic ties with Taiwan," Pena told Reuters news agency in January.
Taiwan's Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Yu suspects that Beijing is behind the possible move from the seven-million-inhabitant state to China.
"It is a fact that China has obviously been courting candidates from all camps" in Paraguay, Yu said during a parliamentary hearing in early April.
Losing Paraguay would be another blow to Taiwan
A diplomatic move to China would be a serious blow to the government of Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen.
Just a few weeks ago, Honduras turned its back on Taipei and established relations with the People's Republic of China.
In recent years, Taiwan has also lost other allies with countries such as Panama, the Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Nicaragua, the Solomon Islands and Kiribati.
In Europe, only the Vatican recognizes Taiwan.
However, many Western countries, including the USA and Germany, maintain unofficial relations with the government in Taipei.
On Wednesday, Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock stated again that "there should be no military escalation" in the Taiwan issue.
She rejects a "unilateral change in the status quo," said the Green politician during a government survey in the Bundestag.
Baerbock visited China at the end of last week.
