【Epoch Times News December 21, 2024】Suspected eavesdropping incident occurred outside the residence of the Taiwan Ambassador to Paraguay, with employees of Huawei’s local branch implicated; the Taiwan Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that they will cooperate with Paraguayan authorities to conduct a lawful investigation to ensure the safety and security of embassy personnel at home and personally.
Paraguayan media revealed that on the afternoon of October 9th this year, a grey Audi sedan was found parked outside the official residence of Taiwanese Ambassador Han Zhizheng for a prolonged period of 2 hours. A man inside the car not only opened the window to take photos with a camera but also aimed what appeared to be surveillance equipment towards the ambassador’s residence, possibly eavesdropping on internal communications within the residence; Embassy staff noticed the unusual activity and notified the police. When the police arrived to inspect, the driver immediately accelerated the vehicle and fled the scene.
Due to the sensitivity of the situation, the authorities promptly reviewed surveillance footage for investigation and found that the suspicious vehicle was registered under the name of Huawei’s Paraguay branch, and the 62-year-old driver, Dionisio Duarte, was also an employee of Huawei’s Paraguay branch. Further investigation revealed that the man sitting in the passenger seat taking photos on that day had “Eastern facial features.”
The Paraguayan Ministry of Foreign Affairs and police have notified foreign diplomatic missions to enhance vigilance and strengthen security measures for the Taiwan embassy and diplomatic personnel. The authorities have yet to confirm whether the incident involves espionage activities, but Prosecutor Karina Caballero has initiated an investigation.
The Taiwan Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that after discovering employees of the Chinese company Huawei attempting to spy on the duties of the embassy’s residence in Paraguay in October this year, they immediately contacted the Paraguayan police and will cooperate with the authorities in conducting a proper investigation to ensure the safety and security of embassy personnel at home and personally, as well as to ensure the right of overseas personnel to carry out official duties without interference from illegal activities.
Moreover, earlier this month, a foreign diplomat from the Chinese Communist Party made inappropriate remarks at the Paraguayan Congress and had their visa revoked by the Paraguayan government.
The Taiwan Ministry of Foreign Affairs affirmed the clear handling taken by the authorities in safeguarding national sovereignty and the friendship between Taiwan and Paraguay, which once again proves the Chinese Communist Party’s long-standing attempts to undermine Taiwan’s relationship with friendly nations and maliciously downgrade Taiwan’s international status.
On the same day, Xu Wei, Counsellor at the Latin America Department of the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, accompanied a Chinese delegation to Paraguay to attend a UNESCO meeting, during which he urged Paraguay to abandon Taiwan and establish relations with China, leading to Paraguay accusing him of interfering in internal affairs, violating visa conditions, labeling him as an unwelcome individual, and mandating departure within 24 hours.
(Translated from “Radio Free Asia”)