Source: United News Network
Author: He Guoshi
On Sunday, the President of Paraguay is about to be announced. If Erigri of the opposition party wins, where is the relationship between Taiwan and Pakistan?Personally, who is the most critical factor in the wrestling of the United States and China in Paraguay.
Paraguay is currently the largest and only diplomatic country in South America.In 1957, Paraguay established diplomatic relations with Taiwan when he was in power in the military strong.However, after the democratization of Paraguay in the 1990s, with the major changes in the international situation such as the end of the Cold War, the implementation of the policy of opening up and diversified policies was implemented.
Over the years, the Taiwan government has played an important role in the relationship between the two sides and funded Paraguay to many public construction, but private enterprises' investment in Pakistani is minimal.From 2003 to 2018, Taiwan donated a total of nearly $ 100 million.In the past, because the Paraguay government could not propose appropriate planning and lack of control funds, the use of the aid funds in Taiwan was greatly criticized.But in recent years, it has improved significantly.In order to show sincerity, since 2020, Taiwan has increased significantly from Paraguay and canceled the upper limit regulations. By the end of 2022, Taiwan has become the fourth largest exporter of Pakistan beef.
After joining the WTO in mainland China in 2001, the bilateral trade with Latin American countries rose sharply from 18.5 billion in 2002 to US $ 312 billion in 2022.In addition, the mainland actively participates in the Latin America and the Caribbean community and has become an observer organized by American countries to ensure that the mainland has obtained raw materials, strategic products and the market for development required from Latin America, and further isolation in Taiwan.
Since mainland China is the largest importer of soybeans and beef in the world, these two items are the two major economic pillars of Paraguay. This is the most important factor for the continuous demand for the establishment of diplomatic relations with mainland China.In addition, there is a huge trade deficit in mainland China and Paraguay.China exports Pakistani as high as US $ 3.5 billion, mainly electronics and textiles; imports are only $ 25 million, and mainland China still prohibits the import of Pakistan beef on the grounds of non -diplomatic relations.
Foreign policy analysis pointed out that because Paraguay has not built diplomatic relations with the mainland, it must be exported indirectly. Therefore, it loses about 350 million US dollars per year, accounting for about one percent of its national hair.But Pakistan's biggest loss is that it cannot obtain a large number of loans and investment from mainland China.Although Taiwan's fund -funded amount has increased from $ 1.4 million per year from 2000 to $ 28 million in 2019, it is still much lower than the amount that can be obtained after the establishment of diplomatic relations between Paraguay and mainland China.
For a long time, the Paraguay Red Party government has continued to maintain friendship with Taiwan, mainly due to the establishment of deep friendship and economic connection with senior officials of the two governments.
The United States has always regarded Latin America as its sphere of influence. However, after the Cold War ended, Latin America has gradually suffered ignoring the United States, which has caused mainland China to take the opportunity to expand its power in Latin America.The battle between the United States and China in Latin America is not just economic war, it is more related to values and the security of the Western Hemisphere.
Secondly, the Latin American society is currently concerned about China's smartphones everywhere, bridges, stadiums, hydropower and other large constructions assisted by China.In the past two decades, China has provided more than $ 173 billion in direct investment in Latin America, and mainland China is also the primary trading partner of all Latin American countries.Furthermore, because the left government is currently governing in most countries in Latin America, there is generally suspicion and anti -American emotions.These all show that the decline in US influence is conducive to the expansion of mainland China, and it may further endanger the friendship between Taiwan and Paraguay.The Taiwan government should really think carefully and wait, so as not to repeat the mistakes of Hongdu.
The author is an associate professor of the Department of Linicology at Jingyi University
