Prime Minister John Briceño says China’s sanctions on Foreign Minister Francis Fonseca will not change Belize’s support for Taiwan, and that they will only strengthen the government’s resolve.
He is in Thailand for the 2026 Annual Meetings of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank Group, attending as Belize’s finance minister and chair of the World Bank’s Small States Forum.
CNA reported that Briceño described the sanctions as unreasonable, unnecessary, wrong and illegal. It said he told the agency that Belize is an independent country with the right to decide which countries it keeps relations with. “We strongly believe in the right to self-determination.”
CNA said Briceño argued that Taiwan’s strengths in the economy, technology, artificial intelligence, health care, education and climate research warrant recognition by the United Nations and other international organisations.
He also called for deeper cooperation with Taiwan through investment, technology exchanges and people-to-people ties. The CNA said he pointed to shrimp farming technology as one area where Taiwan could help. “For example, shrimp farming technology is one area where Taiwan could contribute.”
He said Belize’s young population is an advantage for technology cooperation. “We have a young population, and they go from junior college to university, and they learn quickly. So these are areas where we can collaborate.”
CNA reported that six Taiwanese exchange students are now working in Belizean government ministries and other fields. Briceño said student exchanges can help strengthen ties between the two countries.
Briceño said providing services to a widely dispersed population of about 420,000 is a major challenge for Belize, given its limited tax base. He said the country has 196 small communities. “We have to constantly see how we can find that balance in providing basic services, access to water, access to electricity, and access to education and health.”
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