Foreign Minister Joseph Wu told lawmakers on Monday that there is no diplomatic crisis with Paraguay. He was answering a question about a recent vote in Paraguay’s congress on whether the South American nation should cut ties with Taiwan and recognize China.
In mid-April, 16 members of Paraguay’s congress voted in favor of cutting ties with Taiwan and recognizing China, while 25 voted against.
Wu said that it is normal for a democracy like Paraguay to have different voices. “We don’t have a diplomatic crisis with Paraguay. Paraguay’s government is very supportive of Taiwan but Paraguay is a democratic country, just like Taiwan is a democratic country,” said Wu. “A democratic country will have many different voices. That’s normal.”
The foreign ministry said it would continue to monitor the situation and also reach out to the Paraguayan political party the Guasú Front, which initiated the proposal to cut ties with Taiwan.
Paraguay is Taiwan’s only ally in South America.
Lawmakers also asked Wu about Taiwan’s ties with the Holy See, Taiwan’s sole European ally. Questions arose about bilateral ties after the Holy See’s foreign minister met with China’s foreign minister in February.
Wu said that he does not think there is a diplomatic crisis with the Holy See. But he did say the foreign ministry is keeping a close watch on Taiwan’s relations with all of its allies.