OMM Redaksiyası
China has imposed sanctions on Belize Foreign Minister Francis Fonseca and Paraguay’s Minister of Information and Communication Technologies, Gustavo Villate, for supporting diplomatic relations with Taiwan.
China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced the measures on Monday, October 12, citing concerns about national sovereignty and security. Beijing accused officials from both countries of taking an “anti-China” position by supporting continued diplomatic ties with Taiwan.
Under the sanctions, Fonseca and Villate are barred from entering mainland China, Hong Kong and Macao. Chinese citizens and organizations are also prohibited from conducting transactions or cooperating with them, or participating in other activities involving them.
The decision followed the ministers’ recent meetings with Taiwanese officials. Fonseca met Taiwan Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung in Belize in September, while Villate met Taiwan Deputy Foreign Minister Chen Ming-chi in Paraguay in June.
Belize and Paraguay are among the 12 countries that maintain formal diplomatic relations with Taiwan. Beijing considers the self-governing island part of its territory, a claim Taiwan’s government firmly rejects.
While the sanctions carry political significance, their practical impact is expected to be limited, as officials from Taiwan’s diplomatic partners rarely travel to China. Beijing has previously imposed similar restrictions on politicians who support Taiwan, most of them from Western countries.
The relevant ministries in Belize and Paraguay, as well as Taiwan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
The sanctions were announced shortly after the Belize Embassy marked the 37th anniversary of diplomatic relations with Taiwan on October 11. In a Facebook post, the embassy expressed hope for a future of development, opportunity and enduring friendship between the two sides.
Beijing has sought to encourage Taiwan’s remaining diplomatic partners to establish relations with China. In 2024, Nauru became the latest country to sever ties with Taipei. Honduras ended decades of relations with Taiwan in 2023.
