Paraguayan President Santiago Peña said his government is “anxiously” preparing to host Taiwan’s President Lai Ching-te in about 30 days, confirming plans for an official visit to Asunción in August. The announcement was made on 14 July at a Paraguay-Taiwan investment forum attended by Taiwanese Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung and a delegation of business leaders. Paraguay is the only South American nation—and one of just 12 globally—that maintains full diplomatic relations with Taipei. Peña, who studied in Taiwan, described the 68-year partnership as rooted in shared democratic values and vowed to defend the relationship “with all its strength,” despite domestic calls to shift recognition to Beijing. The long-haul itinerary is expected to include transit stopovers in the United States, a standard practice for Taiwanese presidents traveling to Latin America but one that routinely triggers protests from Beijing. On Tuesday, China’s foreign ministry reiterated its opposition to what it called “sneaky visits” by Taiwanese leaders to U.S. soil and urged Washington to act “with the utmost caution.” Lai’s swing through the region is also slated to include Belize, according to officials there. The trip comes as Taipei works to solidify ties with its remaining allies in the Americas after several countries switched recognition to China in recent years.