Taiwan is cautiously rebuilding ties in Latin America, leveraging renewed U.S. focus on the region to counter Beijing’s influence and potentially regain diplomatic partners. While openings are emerging, lasting gains will hinge less on geopolitics and more on whether Taiwan and its allies can offer meaningful economic engagement.

President Tsai’s Pandemic Diplomacy In early April, President Tsai Ing-wen announced a new diplomatic initiative in an attempt to turn Taiwan’s success in battling the coronavirus into a geopolitical win, despite China’s efforts to isolate Taiwan politically. Noting that Taiwan had transformed from being an importer of facemasks to the world’s second largest producer, she…