The government has not offered Paraguay a US$71 million financial package, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs reiterated yesterday after a Central News Agency report said the Paraguayan Senate is still contemplating the donation.
“We have never made such an offer,” ministry spokesman Henry Chen (陳銘政) said.
“Every foreign assistance project must be approved by the Legislative Yuan,” he said.
One ministry official, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said US$71 million was the price that Paraguay quoted to China in exchange for a switch of allegiance. But Beijing apparently refused the offer.
Ambassador to Paraguay David Hu (胡正堯) was quoted in a CNA interview as saying that he had explained to Paraguay’s foreign minister that all foreign aid donated by Taiwan must be spent on improving the country.
Hu was quoted as saying that Asuncion had yet to propose any new bilateral cooperation ideas, adding that Taiwan’s government would only allocate financial aid based on the principle of transparency.
Paraguayan President Fernando Lugo said in a TV interview on Sunday night that his country would not vote in support of Taiwan’s UN bid this year, as it has in the past.
However, both Hu and the foreign ministry have said that bilateral ties are stable and firm, despite Lugo’s stance.
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