Paraguayan President’s Taiwan Visit Signals Beijing’s Setback in Latin America: Analysts

President Santiago Peña concluded his four-day visit to the island, with both sides signing pacts covering artificial intelligence, security, and justice.

Taiwan President Lai Ching-te (L) and Paraguay's President Santiago Peña review the honor guards during a welcome ceremony in front of the Presidential building in Taipei on May 8, 2026. I-Hwa Cheng/AFP via Getty Images

Paraguayan President Santiago Peña’s state visit to Taiwan underscores Beijing’s diplomatic setback in Latin America, experts say, while Washington continues to curb the Chinese regime’s expansion in the Western Hemisphere to mitigate the geopolitical threat.

During his May 7–10 trip, Peña met with Taiwan President Lai Ching-te and signed three cooperation agreements covering mutual legal assistance, cybersecurity, and artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure.