Diplomatic Clash: Paraguay Expels Chinese Envoy Amid Tensions over Taiwan.
In a move that has escalated tensions in the region, Paraguay has expelled a senior Chinese envoy, accusing him of interfering in the country’s domestic affairs and urging it to sever ties with Taiwan.
On Thursday, Paraguay’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs declared Xu Wei, a senior Chinese diplomat to Latin America, persona non grata and gave him 24 hours to leave the country.
The decision came after Xu skipped an annual UNESCO meeting in Paraguay and instead turned up at the country’s Congress, where he called on officials to abandon their long-standing friendship with Taiwan.
Paraguay is the only South American nation and one of just 12 worldwide that recognizes Taiwan, the self-governing democratic island that China claims as its own territory. This has been a point of contention, as Beijing has been actively lobbying foreign countries to switch their diplomatic allegiance from Taipei to Beijing.
In a curt statement, the Paraguayan government said it had revoked Xu’s visa “over interference in internal affairs.” The move underscores the South American nation’s firm commitment to its relationship with Taiwan, even in the face of China’s growing influence and economic might in the region.
From the halls of Paraguay’s futuristic Congress building, which was partially funded by Taiwan, Xu stressed Beijing’s interest in establishing diplomatic relations with Asunción. However, he made it clear that the onus was on Paraguayan officials to make the “correct decision” and ditch Taiwan in favor of China.
Xu’s overtures to Paraguayan lawmakers included the prospect of expanded trade with China, which has seen its commercial ties with South America grow exponentially in recent years, reaching nearly $500 billion as of 2023.
The Taiwanese Embassy in Paraguay was quick to respond, denouncing Xu as an “infiltrator” who sought to “undermine the firm friendship” between Paraguay and Taiwan, which dates back to 1957.
The expulsion of the Chinese envoy highlights the delicate geopolitical balance in the region, where countries are increasingly caught in the tug-of-war between the United States’ traditional influence and China’s burgeoning economic clout.
