Paraguay's president-elect seeks closer China ties
REUTERS
Reuters North American News Service
Apr 22, 2008 12:22 EST
ASUNCION (Reuters) - Paraguay's president-elect said Tuesday he will
seek closer ties to China, marking a possible foreign policy ****ft in
the only South American country allied with Taiwan.
Fernando Lugo won Sunday's presidential election and ousted the center-
right Colorado Party, which has had tight relations with major aid
donor Taiwan during the party's 61-year rule.
"Among the Paraguayan people and its legislators, there's a desire to
get closer to China. (Paraguay) is the only country in the region that
doesn't have relations with China," Lugo said during his first news
conference as president-elect, before meeting with Taiwan's ambassador
in Asuncion.
"If other countries have established relations with China ... we're
not going to get left behind," Lugo said.
A former Roman Catholic bishop, Lugo heads a center-left coalition
that includes farm groups, unions and the traditional Liberal Party.
He takes office Aug. 15 for a five-year term.
China, which has viewed self-ruled Taiwan as part of its territory
since the end of the Chinese civil war in 1949, seeks to isolate
Taiwan internationally.
Taipei has a dwindling list of 23 diplomatic allies worldwide compared
with some 170 overseas partners for China. Taiwan's allies are mostly
small, poor countries in Central America, the South Pacific and
Africa.
China has become a major consumer of soy, minerals and other raw
materials from South America and has begun investing in the region.
Taiwan, on the other hand, has helped build houses in Paraguay and
funded other projects.
The world's No. 4 soybean ex****ter, Paraguay is a poor, landlocked
country dwarfed by wealthier neighbors Brazil and Argentina.
"When I said we will have open relations with everyone, China was
implicitly included ... Paraguay will make its decision as a
sovereign, independent country," Lugo said, adding that relations
between Taiwan and China could warm somewhat after Taiwan's president-
elect takes the helm in May.
Taiwanese Ambassador David Hu told re****ters that his government hopes
to bolster ties to Paraguay.
"We want to strengthen relations. If (Paraguay can expand ties to
China) without hurting our bilateral relations, then I think that's
fine," Hu said after meeting Lugo. (Re****ting by Mariel Cristaldo;
Writing by Daniela Desantis and Hilary Burke; Editing by Eric Walsh)
Source: Reuters North American News Service
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