Taiwan President Plans US Transit on Paraguay Visit

Paraguayan President Santiago Peña announced that Taiwan's President Lai Ching-te will visit Paraguay next month, highlighting Paraguay's status as the only South American country and one of just 12 worldwide maintaining formal diplomatic ties with Taiwan. The visit emphasizes Paraguay's 68-year alliance with Taiwan, which Peña described as strategic and grounded in shared democratic values. Lai is expected to make transit stops in the United States, a move likely to draw strong opposition from Beijing due to ongoing US-China tensions. Taiwan has recently strengthened ties with Paraguay through technology transfers and healthcare donations. Amid shifting allegiances in Latin America and the Caribbean toward China, Paraguay has reaffirmed its commitment to Taiwan and a sovereign foreign policy. The upcoming visit is intended to reinforce collaboration and demonstrate resilience against external diplomatic pressure.