Paraguay has expelled a low-level Chinese diplomat after he allegedly encouraged lawmakers to reconsider the country’s friendly relationship with Taiwan. The envoy, Xu Wei, was given 24 hours to leave the country after violating the terms of his visa.
Xu, who was part of a Chinese group attending a UNESCO meeting, made comments in Paraguay’s parliament that were seen as an attempt to persuade lawmakers to switch allegiance from Taiwan to China. He reportedly told lawmakers that having diplomatic relations with China could bring economic benefits and urged them to recognize China over Taiwan.
However, Paraguay’s foreign ministry accused Xu of “interference in domestic affairs” and said his comments were unacceptable. The ministry also claimed that Xu had infiltrated the country to undermine its relationship with Taiwan.
China’s foreign ministry denied any involvement in Paraguay’s internal politics, saying that the “one-China principle” was a norm of international relations. However, Paraguay’s Deputy Minister of Administration and Technical Affairs, Juan Baiardi, described Xu as having a “parallel agenda” that was not suitable for his visit.
This move by Paraguay is significant as it is one of the only South American countries with formal relations with Taiwan. The expulsion marks a significant shift in the country’s diplomatic stance on the issue.
Source: https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/paraguay-expels-chinese-envoy-over-interference-domestic-affairs-2024-12-05