Jul 01, 2026 

Paraguay's foreign minister said the South American country is willing to deepen trade with China as long as it could maintain so-called diplomatic ties with island of Taiwan — a position that a Chinese expert dismissed as an attempt to "have it both ways." Seeking the economic benefits of closer ties with China while harming its core interests is "wishful thinking," the expert said, adding that such a proposition would never be accepted by Beijing.

During a summit in Paraguay with leaders of the South American Mercosur bloc on Tuesday, where trade issues were discussed, Paraguay's Foreign Minister Ruben Ramirez said that that Paraguay does not refuse to establish trade relations with China, as long as there are no conditions regarding Paraguay’s so-called diplomatic ties with Taiwan island, according to the Strait Times. 

“If those are the conditions, we have no restrictions,” Ramirez said.

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