Paraguay accuses China of financing the press to criticize the government

According to him, the initiative would be retaliation for the recognition of Taiwan as a sovereign nation, which is the main reason for the tense relationship between Asunción and Beijing.

Peña mentioned to journalists this Friday (3) that the Chinese dictatorship, led by Xi Jinping, would be exerting “enormous pressure” on the country’s public institutions.

The right-wing ruler also acknowledged that local business groups would have no problem pursuing their own agendas, although he warned them to be careful not to become “simply mouthpieces for other governments.”

This week, the countries exchanged barbs after the Paraguayan Foreign Minister, Rubén Ramírez, said that the country is open to establishing commercial relations with China. In response, Beijing’s Foreign Ministry stated that the South American country should position itself on the “right side of history” first.