Paraguay has expelled a Chinese envoy after he allegedly interfered in its domestic affairs and urged the country to break ties with Taiwan. Xu Wei, a senior Chinese diplomat, was declared persona non grata by the foreign ministry on Thursday.
Xu’s expulsion comes amid Paraguay’s firm commitment to recognizing Taiwan as a sovereign state. The move is significant as it marks one of the few countries in South America that still maintains diplomatic relations with Taiwan.
The Chinese envoy’s comments during an Unesco meeting were seen as an attempt to pressure Paraguay into switching its allegiance to China. However, his statement was met with skepticism by lawmakers, who highlighted the potential economic benefits of maintaining ties with Taiwan.
Paraguay’s decision is part of a trend in Latin America where countries have cut diplomatic relations with Taiwan in favor of Beijing. The Chinese government has been increasing its lobbying efforts in recent years to persuade foreign countries to adopt the one-China principle.
The expulsion of Xu Wei comes as China’s trade with South America continues to grow, reaching nearly $500 billion in 2023.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/dec/05/paraguay-chinese-envoy-taiwan