“There is tremendous value in our relationship with Taiwan,” Santiago Peña told RFI.

RFI: The United States has sanctioned former President Horacio Cartes and two high-ranking officials in Colorado for corruption. What do you think of these penalties?

Santiago Pena: I think we should look at the facts. The United States has a law and is using that law to allow everyone who enters its country complete freedom to do so and, obviously, apply economic sanctions to its financial system. I believe that people affected by these sanctions have the right and should also, in some cases, when they are public and political figures, defend themselves. It is what Cartes said that denies the accusations. Sanctions relate to the conduct of individuals and should not affect the United States’ relationship with either the Colorado or Paraguayan party.

RFI: Paraguay is the only country in the region that recognizes Taiwan. If he wins the presidency, what will the relationship with China be like?

Santiago Pena: Paraguay has a historic relationship with Taiwan that cannot simply be quantified in economic terms. There is more to it than trade. Trade is important, we need to make progress, but we also need to understand that relationships must be based on democratic values. This does not mean that countries that do not have a democratic culture should be rejected. We respect, but yes, we believe there is tremendous value in our relationship with Taiwan. Paraguay must develop its own strength before it can deepen commercial relations with a country like China. Mainland China is Paraguay’s main supplier of commodities and buys Paraguay’s soybeans. Paraguay is a big producer of organic sugar that goes to China, so I think we should not be mistaken in thinking that a change in diplomatic relations will bring the solution to all Paraguayans.

Question: Paraguay was one of the few countries in the world that moved its embassy in 2018 from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, although it backtracked months later. What do you think of the relationship with Israel?

Santiago Pena: I strongly believe that the embassy should be in Jerusalem. I was in Israel two years ago, the president’s residence is in Jerusalem, and the congress is in Jerusalem, and they recognize Jerusalem as their capital. Paraguay was one of the decisive votes in the United Nations for the creation of the State of Israel, and from that moment on we had great emotional ties. I intend to return the embassy to Jerusalem.