Paraguay
Paraguayan opposition lawmaker Leidy Galeano said a government-sponsored trip to China last year left a lasting impression on her, reinforcing the idea that Paraguay could be missing out on significant economic opportunities by maintaining diplomatic relations with Taiwan instead of Beijing.
Galeano, a member of the newly formed Yo Creo party, was part of a delegation that toured six Chinese cities on what participants described as an all-expenses-paid visit organized through the Chinese consulate in São Paulo.
Reflecting on the experience, Galeano said the scale of development she witnessed in China made her think about similar possibilities for Paraguay. She noted that Chinese officials repeatedly emphasized the economic advantages Paraguay might gain by shifting its diplomatic stance away from Taiwan.
According to individuals familiar with the visits, the trips included lavish banquets, stays in luxury hotels, and tours of prominent landmarks such as the Great Wall. Some Paraguayan lawmakers view these invitations as part of a coordinated campaign by Beijing to cultivate political support in Paraguay and encourage a diplomatic switch.
Despite its relatively small population of around 6.4 million and its landlocked geography, Paraguay holds strategic importance in the geopolitical contest between China and Taiwan. It remains Taiwan’s last diplomatic ally in South America and one of only 12 countries worldwide that still formally recognize Taipei.
A decision by Paraguay to establish diplomatic relations with Beijing would represent a symbolic victory for China in its long-running effort to diplomatically isolate Taiwan, which Beijing claims as its own territory. Over the past decade, several countries have switched recognition from Taipei to Beijing, shrinking Taiwan’s list of allies.
China’s outreach to Paraguay also reflects its broader ambitions in Latin America, a region where economic and political influence has increasingly become a point of competition with the United States. U.S. President Donald Trump has emphasized maintaining American leadership in the Western Hemisphere, setting the stage for a geopolitical tug-of-war over influence in countries like Paraguay.