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Update: This article is a follow-up to our earlier report: Paraguay's President Defies Beijing — Calls Taiwan Alliance "Built on Freedom"

Beijing Turns Up the Volume

China is no longer simply asking Paraguay to change course — it is now openly attacking its president.

On Tuesday, May 12, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun accused Paraguayan politicians who support ties with Taiwan of "wallowing in the mire" and serving as "pawns of Taiwan independence separatist forces." He also suggested they may have personal "ulterior motives" for maintaining the relationship with Taipei — a thinly veiled insinuation of corruption or self-interest.

The remarks represent a significant escalation from Beijing's language just days earlier, when it had urged Asunción to "stand on the right side of history."

The Poll Claim — Without Evidence

In an effort to paint Peña as out of step with his own population, Guo cited opinion polls he claimed showed more than 90% of Paraguayans support establishing relations with Beijing instead of Taiwan. He provided no names for the polls, no methodology, and no dates.

Such unverified statistics have long been a tool in Beijing's diplomatic playbook. Without independent confirmation, the figures should be treated with caution.

What Triggered the Response

The escalation follows Paraguayan President Santiago Peña's official visit to Taiwan last week, during which he met with Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te and publicly described the two countries' relationship as grounded in "democracy, freedom, and confidence in institutions."

Peña received an honorary doctorate at a Taipei university and signed bilateral cooperation agreements — all under Beijing's watchful eye. As we reported at the time, China had already urged him not to go. He went anyway.

A Country Under Pressure

Paraguay remains the only country in South America that formally recognizes Taiwan. That distinction comes with real economic costs: Beijing refuses to trade with governments that maintain ties with Taipei, meaning Paraguayan beef and soybean exporters are locked out of one of the world's largest markets.

That economic pressure has fueled a growing debate inside Paraguay. A number of politicians, business figures, and even journalists have traveled to China since late 2023 — part of what observers describe as a sustained Chinese influence campaign aimed at gradually shifting Paraguayan public opinion and political will away from Taiwan.

Taipei and Washington Hold the Line

Taiwan's government, under President Lai Ching-te, firmly rejects Beijing's claim that the island is a Chinese province. Lai's administration has worked to deepen ties with remaining diplomatic allies, and Paraguay is one of its most important.

Washington, too, has a stake in this. Paraguay's continued recognition of Taiwan aligns closely with U.S. foreign policy objectives in Latin America — a factor that gives Asunción informal but significant geopolitical backing as it faces Beijing's pressure campaign.

The Pattern Is Familiar — and the Stakes Are High

Panama, the Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Nicaragua, and Honduras have all, in recent years, switched recognition from Taipei to Beijing after sustained Chinese pressure and economic incentives. Beijing is now applying a version of the same playbook to Paraguay.

What sets the current moment apart is the openly aggressive rhetoric. Calling a sitting head of state a "pawn" with "ulterior motives" goes beyond diplomatic pressure — it signals that Beijing is growing impatient, and is willing to sacrifice diplomatic niceties in pursuit of its goal.

Whether that strategy will work in Paraguay — or whether it will simply harden Asunción's resolve — remains to be seen.

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Sources:

1. Reuters – "China ramps up rhetoric to attack Paraguay president's Taiwan visit" (May 12, 2026): https://www.reuters.com/world/china/china-ramps-up-rhetoric-attack-paraguay-presidents-taiwan-visit-2026-05-12/
2. Reuters – "Paraguay deeply values Taiwan ties, president says in Taipei" (May 8, 2026): https://www.reuters.com/world/china/paraguay-deeply-values-taiwan-ties-president-says-taipei-2026-05-08/
3. Reuters – "How China is wooing Paraguay's political class away from longtime ally Taiwan" (March 14, 2026): https://www.reuters.com/world/china/how-china-is-wooing-paraguays-political-class-away-longtime-ally-taiwan-2026-03-14/

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