The visit of Paraguayan President Santiago Pena to Taiwan for the inauguration of President William Lai (賴清德) reaffirms the solid ties of friendship between Paraguay and Taiwan.
Paraguay’s foreign policy over the past 67 years has been founded on solid and strong ties of cooperation between Taiwan and Paraguay, which are confirmed by the presence of Pena at the inauguration of President Lai.
Paraguay and Taiwan are thriving democracies that seek to make the rule of law the cornerstone on which the well-being and progress of their peoples are based. We believe that Taiwan should be an active part of the international system of nations, given the many contributions in the different areas that it can share with the world, and because Taiwan is a beacon of freedom in Asia.
The increasing bilateral trade, and technical and cultural cooperation between the two nations cements the diplomatic ties that bring us closer together; geographically distant, but close in feelings.
Paraguay has reiterated at international forums the need for its sister Asian nation to be considered an international legal entity and be fully entitled to recognition in the international system.
Our relationship of more than 67 years is stronger and more robust than ever, given that both countries agree to establish an alliance of cooperation for the development of their peoples, based mainly on a combination of shared interests and ideals, that would be ratified on this upcoming presidential visit.
At this difficult moment in human history, democracy needs international support, and the best support for democracy comes from fellow democracies, hence the fundamental essence of strong and solid relations between Paraguay and Taiwan.
In Spanish: Todo el pueblo Paraguayo desea augurios de exitos para el mandato presidencial de Don Lai Ching Te y que hermana Republica de China (Taiwan) siga caminando por el sendero del progreso y bienestar de su sociedad, con la confianza que el Paraguay constituye un fiel aliado diplomatico, para trabajar juntos por el triunfo de la democracia, la libertad y el derecho internacional.
In English: All the Paraguayan people wish for the success of the presidential term of William Lai and that the Republic of China (Taiwan) continues to walk along the path of progress and well-being of its society, with the confidence that Paraguay is a faithful diplomatic ally, to work together for the triumph of democracy, freedom and international law.
Carlos Jose Fleitas Rodriguez is the Paraguayan Ambassador to the Republic of China.
In their recent op-ed “Trump Should Rein In Taiwan” in Foreign Policy magazine, Christopher Chivvis and Stephen Wertheim argued that the US should pressure President William Lai (賴清德) to “tone it down” to de-escalate tensions in the Taiwan Strait — as if Taiwan’s words are more of a threat to peace than Beijing’s actions. It is an old argument dressed up in new concern: that Washington must rein in Taipei to avoid war. However, this narrative gets it backward. Taiwan is not the problem; China is. Calls for a so-called “grand bargain” with Beijing — where the US pressures Taiwan into concessions
The term “assassin’s mace” originates from Chinese folklore, describing a concealed weapon used by a weaker hero to defeat a stronger adversary with an unexpected strike. In more general military parlance, the concept refers to an asymmetric capability that targets a critical vulnerability of an adversary. China has found its modern equivalent of the assassin’s mace with its high-altitude electromagnetic pulse (HEMP) weapons, which are nuclear warheads detonated at a high altitude, emitting intense electromagnetic radiation capable of disabling and destroying electronics. An assassin’s mace weapon possesses two essential characteristics: strategic surprise and the ability to neutralize a core dependency.
Chinese President and Chinese Communist Party (CCP) Chairman Xi Jinping (習近平) said in a politburo speech late last month that his party must protect the “bottom line” to prevent systemic threats. The tone of his address was grave, revealing deep anxieties about China’s current state of affairs. Essentially, what he worries most about is systemic threats to China’s normal development as a country. The US-China trade war has turned white hot: China’s export orders have plummeted, Chinese firms and enterprises are shutting up shop, and local debt risks are mounting daily, causing China’s economy to flag externally and hemorrhage internally. China’s
US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping (習近平) were born under the sign of Gemini. Geminis are known for their intelligence, creativity, adaptability and flexibility. It is unlikely, then, that the trade conflict between the US and China would escalate into a catastrophic collision. It is more probable that both sides would seek a way to de-escalate, paving the way for a Trump-Xi summit that allows the global economy some breathing room. Practically speaking, China and the US have vulnerabilities, and a prolonged trade war would be damaging for both. In the US, the electoral system means that public opinion