Paraguay Stands by Taiwan, Honduras Switches to China, Lai’s Eswatini Visit Unverified

### Claim 1: Paraguay is the only South American country that recognizes Taiwan and one of just 12 nations worldwide that maintain diplomatic relations with the island. Evidence – Paraguayan President Santiago Pena reiterated the country’s “deeply values” partnership with Taiwan during a May 8 ceremony, noting Paraguay’s unique status in South America. Official Taiwanese diplomatic lists confirm exactly 12 United Nations member states recognize Taiwan, with Paraguay the sole South American entry. Verdict – True. Analysis – Both the presidential remarks and Taiwan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs records align, leaving no contradictory data. The claim rests on publicly documented diplomatic recognitions, giving it high confidence.

### Claim 2: Honduras established diplomatic relations with China in 2023 after ending its ties with Taiwan. Evidence – Reports state Honduras broke off relations with Taiwan in early 2023 and formally recognized the People’s Republic of China later that year. Chinese foreign‑ministry statements and Honduran government releases list the switch as occurring in March 2023. Verdict – True. Analysis – Independent news outlets and official diplomatic trackers corroborate the timeline. No evidence suggests a reversal or dual recognition, confirming the claim’s accuracy.

### Claim 3: Taiwan’s President Lai Ching‑te visited Eswatini last week, and Eswatini remains Taiwan’s only diplomatic ally in Africa. Evidence – The provided sources mention a prior Lai visit to Eswatini but do not specify a recent trip or confirm Eswatini’s solitary African status. No press releases, news articles, or official statements verify a visit in the past week, nor do they list all African partners. Verdict – Unverifiable. Analysis – Without current documentation, the claim cannot be confirmed nor disproved. The lack of recent, reliable reporting means the statement remains unsubstantiated.

What to watch next – Monitor official statements from Taiwan’s foreign ministry and Eswatini’s government for any confirmation of President Lai’s itinerary, and watch for diplomatic moves by Paraguay or Honduras that could shift the balance of Taiwan’s remaining allies.