China Announces Sanctions on Paraguay, Belize Ministers over Taiwan Ties
The measures freeze property and assets and bar entry to Hong Kong and Macau as Beijing pressures Taiwan’s remaining allies.
- On Monday, Beijing imposed sanctions against Paraguay's Communications Minister Gustavo Villate and Belize's Foreign Minister Francis Fonseca, citing their countries' diplomatic ties with Taiwan.
- Claiming democratically-governed Taiwan as its territory, Beijing systematically isolates the island, which maintains only 12 diplomatic allies globally after China's sustained poaching efforts.
- Punitive measures include freezing property and assets in China, banning entry visas to Hong Kong and Macau, and prohibiting Chinese organizations from engaging in transactions with the officials.
- Villate responded on social media, stating: "Paraguay reaffirms its relationship of friendship and cooperation, based on shared values and principles: the self-determination of peoples, human rights and democracy."
- The sanctions follow Taiwan's national day celebrations, as the island maintains only two other diplomatic allies in the Americas: Guatemala and Haiti.
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20 Articles
The Paraguayan Minister of Communication Gustavo Villate and the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Belize Francis Fonseca are subject to Chinese measures (frozen goods and prohibited entry).? Their countries maintain formal diplomatic relations with TaiwanAfter restrictions on European companies and trade reprisals, China directly targeted individuals accused of "obstinately" supporting the maintenance of diplomatic relations between their country …
Channel News Asia
The Star Kuala LumpurChina announces sanctions on Paraguay, Belize ministers over Taiwan ties
The measures against Paraguay's Communications Minister Gustavo Villate and Belize's Foreign Minister Francis Fonseca include the freezing of their property and assets in China, visa denials and the banning of organisations in China from doing business with them.
The Chinese Foreign Ministry announced sanctions against two ministers from Paraguay and Belize, effective October 12, in retaliation for both countries maintaining diplomatic relations with Taiwan.
Paraguay and Belize are among the 12 States that still maintain formal diplomatic relations with Taiwan.
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