Paraguay: If China does not demand a severance of diplomatic relations, it is willing to develop trade relations

Paraguayan Foreign Minister Ruben Ramirez said at the Mercosur Summit on Tuesday (June 30) that Paraguay is also willing to develop trade relations with China as long as China does not require Paraguay to sever diplomatic relations with Taiwan.

In response to this, Taiwan Foreign Minister Lin Jialong responded on Wednesday morning that Taiwan also has economic and trade relations with China. On the premise that Taiwan maintains diplomatic relations with friendly countries, Taiwan is open to world economic and trade development. He pointed out that Paraguayan President Santiago Peña had just visited Taiwan and the bilateral relations were firm.

Mercosur held a leadership summit in the capital of Paraguay on Tuesday, and member states jointly announced that they would launch trade negotiations with Japan. During the summit, Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva also hinted that trade negotiations with China would be on the agenda. Mercosur and the European Union signed a free trade agreement earlier this year, which is seen as establishing the world's largest free trade area.

Paraguay is the only member of the Southern Mercosur that has not established diplomatic relations with China, and it is also the only diplomatic country with Taiwan in South America. Taiwan currently has 12 diplomatic allies. China has repeatedly urged Paraguay in the past to "make the right choice" and sever diplomatic ties with Taiwan.