Paraguay canceled a low-level Chinese diplomat’s visa and ordered him to leave the country, the Paraguayan Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on Thursday, after the envoy appeared to push lawmakers to reconsider Paraguay’s friendly relationship with Taiwan.
The foreign ministry accused Xu Wei (徐偉) of “interference in domestic affairs.”
Taiwan’s embassy in Paraguay in a post on X on Wednesday called Xu an “infiltrator” who seeks “to undermine the firm friendship between Paraguay and Taiwan” that dates back to 1957.
Photo: REUTERS
Paraguay’s ministry did not specify what Xu’s interference had been, but said he had contravened the terms of his visa after traveling to Paraguay as part of a Chinese group for a UNESCO meeting.
Xu was given 24 hours to leave the country.
In comments recorded at the Paraguayan Congress, Xu urged Paraguay to recognize China over Taiwan, saying that the choice would benefit the soy-producing nation.
Xu made the comments after meeting with two opposition lawmakers who share sympathetic views toward China.
“Having diplomatic relations with China you can earn more, save more, lower your costs,” Xu said in the recording.
“My purpose of this visit is to promote, accelerate the process of filling the gap in the map of Paraguay, that gap is gigantic, which is called the People’s Republic of China,” he added.
Paraguay had to make a choice, he said. “There is no ‘and’ option. With China and Taiwan it’s just ‘or’: China or Taiwan.”
“This gentleman had a parallel agenda, he came to do internal politics that were not appropriate,” Paraguayan Deputy Minister of Administration and Technical Affairs Juan Baiardi said.
China’s foreign affairs ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment sent outside normal Chinese business hours.
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