On April 30, Paraguay will choose a new president, vice president, members of Congress, and subnational leaders against a backdrop of allegations and sanctions against several officials. Yet the reverberations of Paraguay’s election will extend far beyond the country of 6.7 million.  

Depending on the winner, Paraguay’s status as Taiwan’s last remaining South American diplomatic ally could be in doubt. The opposition coalition candidate has strongly signaled his desire to establish diplomatic ties with China, claiming that doing so will help Paraguay’s economic growth. Meanwhile, the incumbent party’s candidate has reiterated his intent to keep Paraguay’s relations with Taiwan intact. As authorities strike a delicate balance between domestic and foreign policy considerations, Paraguay may soon find itself the next epicenter of US-China-Taiwan geopolitical competition.

How might a shift in Paraguayan policy affect broader US-China relations in Latin America and the Caribbean? What can Taiwan’s remaining allies learn from Paraguay’s current considerations? And how can Paraguay chart a course that prioritizes its national interests while effectively managing geopolitical challenges?  

Join the Adrienne Arsht Latin America Center, in collaboration with the Global China Hub, on Friday, April 28, 2023, at 9:00 a.m. ET for a public, virtual conversation on the implications of Paraguay’s upcoming elections for the US, China, Taiwan, and hemispheric relations.  

Speakers

Fernando Masi
Former Lead Advisor, Ministry of Finance and Ministry of Industry and Commerce
Republic of Paraguay;
Founder and Senior Researcher
Center for Analysis and Diffusion of the Paraguayan Economy (CADEP)

Evan Ellis
Research Professor of Latin American Studies
U.S. Army War College Strategic Studies Institute

Victoria Chonn
Postdoctoral Scholar and Teaching Fellow, Department of Political Science and International Relations
University of Southern California;
Nonresident Fellow, Adrienne Arsht Latin America Center
Atlantic Council

Lev Nachman
Assistant Professor, College of Social Science
National Chengchi University;
Nonresident Fellow, Global China Hub
Atlantic Council

Jason Marczak
Senior Director, Adrienne Arsht Latin America Center
Atlantic Council

Pepe Zhang
Senior Fellow, Adrienne Arsht Latin America Center
Atlantic Council

The Adrienne Arsht Latin America Center broadens understanding of regional transformations and delivers constructive, results-oriented solutions to inform how the public and private sectors can advance hemispheric prosperity.

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