ASUNCIÓN, Paraguay AP —Paraguay on Thursday kicked out a Chinese envoy for allegedly interfering in its domestic affairs and urging the South American nation to break off ties and long friendship with Taiwan. Paraguay is the only nation in South America and one of just 12 worldwide that recognizes Taiwan as a country. “It is either China or Taiwan,” he said. China’s trade with South America has grown exponentially in recent years, reaching nearly $500 billion as of 2023, according to data from the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean. On Wednesday, the Taiwanese Embassy in Paraguay lashed out at China on social media platform X, calling Xu an “infiltrator” who seeks “to undermine the firm friendship between Paraguay and Taiwan” that dates back to 1957.

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Persons: curt, Xu Wei, Xu, El Salvador —, ”, “, Xu dangled, ’ Organizations: Paraguay AP —, South, Paraguay’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, UNESCO, Paraguayan, America —, El, Economic Commission, Latin, Embassy, CNN, UN Locations: ASUNCIÓN, Paraguay, Paraguay AP — Paraguay, South American, Taiwan, America, Paraguay’s, Asunción, China, South America, Beijing, America — Honduras, Panama, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Latin America, Caribbean