Questions arise as Taiwan-backed Paraguay project remains unbuilt｜Taiwan News

Five years ago, Taiwan and Paraguay announced their plan to establish Latin America’s premier university: the Taiwan-Paraguay Polytechnic University. But to this day, construction has yet to begin on university’s campus. The delay has raised questions from opposition lawmakers, who claim that Taiwan gave money to Paraguay for campus construction. Taiwan’s foreign ministry has flatly denied the allegation. It says Taiwan gave nothing to Paraguay except support with curriculum design and faculty deployment.

During President Tsai Ing-wen’s 2018 visit to Paraguay, she and then-President Horacio Cartes unveiled a commemorative plaque for the Taiwan-Paraguay Polytechnic University. They pledged to establish the premier university in Latin America. But five years after the project’s announcement, construction has yet to begin on the brick-and-mortar campus. It’s raised concerns from opposition lawmakers.

Cheng Cheng-chien
KMT lawmaker
From January 2019 to Jan. 13 2022, all the budgets were prepaid. These were funds supporting the Paraguayan government’s request for assistance with campus planning and related expenses. That’s very clear. In total, NT$336.115 million were allocated. How exactly has this money been used?

In a statement on Thursday, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs clarified that Paraguay was responsible for the construction of the university. It said that Taiwan was responsible for curriculum design and faculty dispatch, which were being handled by the National Taiwan University of Science and Technology. No funds were given to Paraguay, it said, accusing critics of slandering the ministry and attacking a Taiwanese ally. But the statement failed to appease the opposition.

Lee De-wei
KMT lawmaker
We at the Legislative Yuan wanted you to explain the budget. Is that slandering you? Is that attacking one of our allies? Why is the foreign ministry so defensive? Foreign minister Joseph Wu, please come out and give us an explanation.

White buildings are surrounded by palm trees in this grand 3D rendering. But the school’s actual construction has yet to begin. The foreign ministry says it and Paraguay are negotiating a second five-year plan, and Paraguay has listed the university’s construction as a priority. The entire process is transparent, the ministry says, urging people not to make baseless allegations.

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