PARAGUAYAN Minister of Foreign Affairs Ruben Ramirez Lezcano clearly told the international press that Paraguay will not sacrifice its diplomatic relations with Taiwan or accept this as a condition for concluding an eventual agreement between the parties, referring to an eventual agreement of Mercosur, which includes Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay and Bolivia, with the People’s Republic of China.
The Paraguayan foreign minister also said that the main point of the negotiations of the agreement would focus on discussing the trade imbalance, since none of the Mercosur countries has the capacity to export value-added products to that market. On the contrary, we export raw materials and import finished products.
We must remember that previously Paraguayan President Santiago Pena also told the press that the Paraguayan position is that Mercosur can negotiate trade agreements with any country, but that these should be done within the bloc as established by the Treaty of Asuncion of 1991. He also emphasized that the diplomatic relations that Paraguay has maintained with Taiwan for more than 67 years are solid and firm.
Paraguay and Taiwan share the same civic values and democratic principles regarding the full observance of the rule of law, respect for human rights, sovereignty and independence of peoples, as well as the importance of education as the main factor and source of progress and well-being of our countries. Both nations hold that only freedom and the rule of law, which is in force unrestricted, can guarantee justice and the well-being of their peoples.
Bilateral trade between the two states has grown by more than 550 percent in the past five years, which demonstrates our economic complementarity and that being allies we can collaborate jointly in the progress of our peoples.
In July last year, President Pena became the first Paraguayan president-elect to visit Taiwan and to date he has visited Taiwan twice, always highlighting the strength of the partnership for cooperation that exists between these two sister countries, that despite being geographically separated, since they are antipodes, they are united by the desire for the progress and well-being of their respective peoples.
In conclusion, I would like to recall the words of Paraguayan President Santiago Pena, who pointed out to various media outlets that he believes that the fight to defend Taiwan is worthwhile and that it could be an inspiration for other countries.
“If we can show that maintaining relations with Taiwan is in national interest, Paraguay can become a model for other countries,” the president said.
Carlos Jose Fleitas Rodriguez is the Paraguayan ambassador to the Republic of China (Taiwan).
Trying to force a partnership between Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co (TSMC) and Intel Corp would be a wildly complex ordeal. Already, the reported request from the Trump administration for TSMC to take a controlling stake in Intel’s US factories is facing valid questions about feasibility from all sides. Washington would likely not support a foreign company operating Intel’s domestic factories, Reuters reported — just look at how that is going over in the steel sector. Meanwhile, many in Taiwan are concerned about the company being forced to transfer its bleeding-edge tech capabilities and give up its strategic advantage. This is especially
US President Donald Trump’s second administration has gotten off to a fast start with a blizzard of initiatives focused on domestic commitments made during his campaign. His tariff-based approach to re-ordering global trade in a manner more favorable to the United States appears to be in its infancy, but the significant scale and scope are undeniable. That said, while China looms largest on the list of national security challenges, to date we have heard little from the administration, bar the 10 percent tariffs directed at China, on specific priorities vis-a-vis China. The Congressional hearings for President Trump’s cabinet have, so far,
The US Department of State has removed the phrase “we do not support Taiwan independence” in its updated Taiwan-US relations fact sheet, which instead iterates that “we expect cross-strait differences to be resolved by peaceful means, free from coercion, in a manner acceptable to the people on both sides of the Strait.” This shows a tougher stance rejecting China’s false claims of sovereignty over Taiwan. Since switching formal diplomatic recognition from the Republic of China to the People’s Republic of China in 1979, the US government has continually indicated that it “does not support Taiwan independence.” The phrase was removed in 2022
US President Donald Trump, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth have each given their thoughts on Russia’s war with Ukraine. There are a few proponents of US skepticism in Taiwan taking advantage of developments to write articles claiming that the US would arbitrarily abandon Ukraine. The reality is that when one understands Trump’s negotiating habits, one sees that he brings up all variables of a situation prior to discussion, using broad negotiations to take charge. As for his ultimate goals and the aces up his sleeve, he wants to keep things vague for
RSS