China has placed sanctions on Belize’s Foreign Minister Francis Fonseca and Paraguay’s communications minister over their countries’ ties with Taiwan.
Fonseca says he has received no formal notification.
China announced the measures on Monday. It called the two officials “pawns” who have smeared Beijing. Taiwan condemned the move.
Fonseca responded in a statement. “I have received no formal notification of this action being taken. Once confirmed, the Foreign Ministry will issue a response, and I will speak to the matter.”
“Belize is proud to stand with Taiwan in support of the principles of self-determination and international law.”
Belize and Paraguay are two of just 12 countries that keep formal diplomatic relations with Taiwan. China says Taiwan is one of its provinces and has no right to the trappings of a state, a view Taipei strongly rejects.
China’s foreign ministry cited national sovereignty and security. It said some politicians in Belize and Paraguay have been “anti-China” in pushing for their countries to keep diplomatic ties with Taiwan. In two notices, it said the measures include denying entry visas for Hong Kong and Macau and prohibiting Chinese organisations and individuals from engaging in transactions, cooperation or other activities with the two officials.
Speaking in Beijing, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said the politicians were “willing to serve as pawns” for Taiwan. “They have seriously interfered in China’s internal affairs, spread false information about Chinese cyberattacks, and attacked and smeared China, causing a bad international impact.” She did not elaborate. She added that the remaining countries with ties to Taiwan should not be “repeatedly manipulated by Taiwan independence separatist forces”.
Reuters says the sanctions are largely symbolic because ministers from Taiwan’s diplomatic allies generally don’t travel to China. Beijing has previously imposed similar measures mainly on Western politicians over their support for democratically governed Taiwan.
Fonseca met his Taiwan counterpart, Lin Chia-lung, in Belize last month. Taiwan’s foreign ministry said China had no right to interfere in its diplomatic relations and called the sanctions “blatant interference in the sovereignty and foreign policies of other nations.”
Shortly before China’s announcement, the Belize embassy in Taiwan posted a message on Facebook marking the 37th anniversary, on October 11, of the establishment of ties between the two countries. “Together, we look forward to a future of growth, opportunity, and lasting friendship,” the embassy wrote.
Paraguay’s Minister of Information and Communication Technologies, Gustavo Villate, told local media the move was “to be expected”, given the projects Paraguay and Taiwan are pursuing together, including a data centre. “We are very calm. We will continue working on all the projects we have, and we will push this even more strongly.”
China has stepped up pressure on Taiwan’s remaining diplomatic allies to cut ties, Reuters noted. The last country to do so was Nauru, in 2024. Honduras ended its ties in 2023.
