Taiwan has been in close contact with new Paraguayan President Pedro Alliana, and relations between the two countries remain close and cordial despite the impeachment and removal of his predecessor, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) said today.
Taiwan's cooperation projects with Paraguay are also proceeding as planned and have not been affected by the collapse of the South American country's Ueno Bank, MOFA spokesman Hsiao Kuangwei (蕭光偉) told the ministry’s weekly news briefing.
Hsiao made the remarks when asked about Taiwan's relations with Paraguay's new administration following the impeachment and removal of former President Santiago Pena over his alleged role in a scandal that led to the collapse of Ueno Bank.
Photo: EPA
Pena assumed the presidency in August 2023 and was known as a staunch supporter of his country's diplomatic ties with Taiwan. He was removed from office on Friday after lawmakers across party lines voted unanimously to impeach him, following the collapse of the digital bank, which they said had links to his private business interests.
Pena had offered to resign, but lawmakers instead voted to impeach him and charged him with misconduct, after the bank's collapse triggered a crisis that left more than half of the country's population without access to their accounts.
His deputy, Alliana, was subsequently sworn in as the country's new president.
Pena, who held shares in the company that owned the bank until last year, has denied any wrongdoing.
Ambassador to Paraguay Ivan Lee (李岳融) had conveyed Taiwan's congratulations to Alliana, Hsiao said, adding that both sides had agreed to continue existing cooperation projects.
Alliana had maintained close and cordial relations with Taiwan for a long time, including during his tenure as president of Paraguay's Chamber of Deputies, before becoming vice president, Hsiao said.
He had repeatedly reaffirmed that Taiwan is an important strategic ally of Paraguay, the spokesman said.
Hsiao also confirmed a Paraguayan media report published yesterday saying that Alliana had been scheduled to visit Taiwan later this month in his capacity as vice president.
However, the visit would be postponed in light of the domestic situation in Paraguay, Hsiao said.
The ministry would extend an invitation to Alliana to visit Taiwan at a later date, he added.
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