Paraguay is willing to engage in trade with China, so long as it is not conditional on severing ties with Taiwan. That came from Paraguayan Foreign Minister Ruben Ramirez at the Southern Common Market (Mercosur) trade bloc meeting on Tuesday, June 30, as reported by Agence France-Presse.

Mercosur leaders met on Tuesday in the Paraguayan capital of Asunción, launching trade negotiations with Japan. This follows a trade agreement the bloc reached with the European Union in January this year.

Speaking at the meeting, Ramirez said that Paraguay does not reject trade relations with China, so long as it is not conditional on the diplomatic relationship that Paraguay has with Taiwan.

Paraguay is the only country in South America maintaining official diplomatic ties with Taiwan. China has continually urged Paraguay to ‘make the right choice’ and switch diplomatic recognition to Beijing.