China announced sanctions on Monday against ministers from Paraguay and Belize over their diplomatic relations with Taiwan, the self-ruled island that Beijing claims as its territory.
The measures against Paraguay’s Communications Minister Gustavo Villate and Belize’s Foreign Minister Francis Fonseca include the freezing of their assets in China , visa denials and the banning of Chinese organisations from doing business with them, Beijing’s foreign ministry said. “Certain anti-China politicians… driven by self-interest, have stubbornly supported” Paraguay and Belize’s diplomatic relations with Taiwan, the ministry said in online statements. Beijing said the ministers had “taken a series of egregious actions and statements… damaging China’s core interests”. Paraguay’s President Santiago Pena, who has described Taiwan as a “fundamental partner” for the South American country, visited Taipei earlier this year, where he signed a raft of agreements on mutual legal assistance on criminal matters, cybersecurity cooperation and AI and computing investment. Last month, Taiwan’s Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung also visited Belize, where his ministry said the two sides agreed to deepen ties.
