By Entorno and AFP | 2023-09-20

UNITED NATIONS -- President Santiago Peña of Paraguay, one of a dwindling number of countries that recognize Taiwan, called Tuesday (September 19) for its readmission to the United Nations (UN) in recognition of its democratic credentials.

Addressing the General Assembly, Peña said the world body should reflect "participatory, democratic and equitable practices" in line with the UN Charter.

"In this light, Paraguay expresses its support for the Republic of China -- Taiwan -- to be an integral part of the United Nations," Peña said.

His remarks come as China steps up pressure to exclude Taiwan entirely from international bodies.

Taiwan -- where the mainland's Nationalists fled after losing the civil war in 1949 -- for decades represented China at the UN including with a veto-wielding seat on the powerful Security Council.

But by 1971, Beijing gained enough support that the General Assembly expelled Taiwan in favor of the People's Republic of China (PRC).

The United States, which opposed the move, recognized Beijing in 1978 and broke off relations with Taiwan, which has since transformed into a vibrant democracy.

The United States still maintains unofficial relations with Taiwan and sells it weapons to defend against an invasion by Beijing, which some US officials fear is becoming likelier.

China views Taiwan as part of its territory awaiting reunification, vowing to seize it one day -- by force if necessary. Officials in Washington have cited 2027 as a possible timeline for an invasion.

The growing worries come as China has ramped up military pressures on Taiwan, holding large-scale war games simulating a blockade on the island, while conducting near-daily warplane incursions and sending Chinese vessels around its waters.

China's latest massive show of force came Monday when Beijing sent more than 100 warplanes in 24 hours around the island, prompting Taipei to decry the "destructive unilateral actions."

'Monster risk'

A Chinese blockade on Taiwan would be a "monster risk" for Beijing and likely to fail, while a military invasion would be extremely difficult, senior Pentagon officials told Congress Tuesday.

"It would likely not succeed, and it would be a huge risk of escalation for the PRC, where it would likely have to consider whether or not it was willing to ultimately start attacking commercial maritime vessels," Ely Ratner, the US assistant defense secretary for Indo-Pacific Security Affairs, told the House Armed Services Committee.

"A blockade would be devastating to the international community and would likely induce the broad-based wide deep response from the international community... that Beijing would likely be trying to avoid," he said.

He was echoed by US Army Maj. Gen. Joseph McGee, a vice director of the Joint Staff.

"It is much easier to talk about a blockade than actually do a blockade," he said.

He also pointed to island's mountainous terrain and the Taiwan Strait waterway separating it from mainland China, saying "there is absolutely nothing easy about a PLA [People's Liberation Army] invasion of Taiwan."

"They would have to mass tens of thousands, maybe hundreds of thousands, of troops on the eastern coast, and that would be a clear signal," McGee said, adding that combined amphibious and airborne air assault operations would be "an extremely complicated joint operation."

Only 12 countries as well as the Vatican recognize Taiwan, with Beijing putting concerted pressure on countries linked to Taipei.

Taiwanese Vice President William Lai, who is the frontrunner in the presidential election next year, flew to Paraguay last month to attend Peña's inauguration.

He transited through the United States, drawing protests from Beijing.