Paraguay is one of the countries on the continent that has firmly supported the Republic of Taiwan since 1957, which has resulted in extensive military cooperation over the course of 69 years of prosperous friendship between both nations.
In an exclusive interview with Zona Militar, Taiwan’s ambassador to Paraguay, José Chih-Cheng Han, went deeper into that friendship forged by both countries despite the fact that Guaraní lands are on the antipodes of Taiwanese ones.
“We are at a very good stage in the relationship between our two countries, carrying out many development assistance cooperation initiatives, focused on consolidating a strategic relationship in terms of trade, investment, and strategic cooperation. The relationship with Paraguay dates back to 1957; at that time, during the Cold War, there was an anti-communist ideological identification, and we escaped from communism,” Ambassador Chih-Cheng Han explained.
Currently, the Taiwanese population in Paraguay reaches 4,000 citizens, mainly settled in the Ciudad del Este area (Paraguay), the Triple Frontier with Foz do Iguaçu (Brazil) and Puerto Iguazú (Argentina). “Paraguay has always been a very open country to migration; there are communities here from various countries around the world, it is a country of many opportunities,” the Taiwanese ambassador added.
Military Cooperation
Last year, the government of Taiwan donated four UH-1H helicopters to the Paraguayan Air Force, along with spare parts and training for Paraguayan aviation mechanics. With this batch, the total number of units of this type delivered by the Asian country to the FAP reached nine.
For the time being, Taiwan does not expect to deliver more vehicles or aircraft to Paraguay as donations, but it will maintain its close relationship with senior military leadership in terms of training.
“We have high-level command courses, war courses, and staff courses. We send students from Paraguay to Taiwan and vice versa. These courses will continue; we hold them once a year, they last approximately one month, we are sending generals recommended by the Ministry of Defense, and there is also an exchange of cadets,” Chih-Cheng Han said.
In October of last year, the President of Paraguay’s Chamber of Deputies, Raúl Latorre, during his visit to Taiwan, announced the donation of an air ambulance aircraft to be integrated into the FAP fleet. This is something that Ambassador Chih-Cheng Han almost ruled out: “As far as we know, Paraguay has air ambulance capability; there is an agreement between the Ministry of Health and the Air Force that is using existing equipment by adapting aircraft as ambulances. At this moment, an air ambulance aircraft is not needed. We are continuing to study how we can help.”
There was also discussion about the possibility of the FAP, through an agreement with the Taiwanese government, acquiring combat aircraft—something that, in the ambassador’s view, appears unlikely given the current situation involving China.
“There is interest, but we have to keep talking, because Taiwan is a country that is being heavily threatened. We no longer have the capacity to support a friendly country with combat aircraft; we still need those assets ourselves. In addition, a combat aircraft demands considerable resources for maintenance and operation. Paraguay currently has good aircraft; the Super Tucano is a good aircraft, very well recognized worldwide,” the Taiwanese ambassador said.
UNRESTRICTED SUPPORT AND GEOPOLITICAL ACTORS
The Paraguayan government has always maintained firm support for Taiwan, even restricting access to China on several occasions, which has paid off for the country in consolidating its relationship with the government in Taipei.
“Paraguay’s friendship with Taiwan goes back a long way; there was a time when Taiwan was ignored by the world, but Paraguay has remained firm to this day. By standing with Taiwan, circumstantially, there is no Chinese presence in Paraguay, which highlights Paraguay’s value for allied countries. This persistence by Paraguay now gives it greater strategic value at the global and regional levels,” Ambassador Chih-Cheng Han emphasized.
The geopolitical map was clearly outlined by the Taiwanese ambassador to Paraguay. “Geopolitics moves at a global level; the geopolitical structure is a conflict between the United States and China. Behind the United States is a whole group of countries with similar democratic values, and behind China are authoritarian countries—Russia, Iran, North Korea, and other allied states,” the diplomat analyzed.
He continued: “Paraguay identifies strongly with the United States. In addition to the close friendship we have with Paraguay, we greatly appreciate that Paraguay voices its support for Taiwan at the right moment; China must be prevented. If China takes Taiwan, it would break the first island chain in the western Pacific, which would significantly change geopolitics. We are on the front line.”
Regarding the actions of the government in Taipei, the diplomat stated: “Our strategy is to always remain on alert and try to strengthen our armed forces. Taiwan alone cannot face China; surely our allies will have to come, and we are confident that we have very strong and solid allies—in this case the United States, Japan, the Philippines, South Korea, Australia, and the European Union. Each one’s intervention has its own degree, but we have very strong allies. We are trying to make China understand that the cost of invading Taiwan would be immense, to the point that it could destroy its economy.”
Zona Militar thanks Ambassador José Chih-Cheng Han, representative of Taiwan in Paraguay, for the interview granted; as well as Daniel Lee, press officer of the Embassy of Taiwan in Asunción, for the facilities provided.
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