Focus Taiwan
Date: 05/08/2020
By: Emerson Lim

Taipei, May 8 (CNA) Calls by some "left-leaning" legislators in Paraguay, Taiwan's only diplomatic ally in South America, to shift formal ties to Beijing are opposed by public opinion in the country, Taiwan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) said Friday, reiterating the long-standing friendship between the two countries.

According to the latest issue of Americas Quarterly, published on May 7, the Paraguayan Senate took a vote on April 17 in a virtual session on whether to urge the president to change diplomatic recognition from Taipei to Beijing.

Confirming the report, MOFA spokeswoman Joanne Ou (歐江安) said seven Paraguayan senators associated with the left-leaning party caucus "Frente Guazú" petitioned on March 30 to establish formal ties with Beijing in exchange for medical supplies from China and direct access to China's market.

The 45-seat Paraguayan Senate voted against the proposal, 25-16, on April 17, with four absent, Ou said in a statement, adding that the ministry is closely watching developments.
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