Beijing sanctions Paraguayan and Belizean ministers over support for Taiwan

China sanctioned the Paraguayan and Belizean ministers Gustavo Villate and Francis Fonseca, respectively, on Monday for their support of Taiwan. The foreign ministry froze their assets in China, barred Chinese entities and individuals from dealing with them, and denied them entry into China, including Hong Kong and Macau. The ministers were accused of "stubbornly supporting" China's Taiwan region "for self-interest."

China's sanctions, under its anti-foreign sanction law, aim to "safeguard national sovereignty, security and development interests" and oppose separatist activities. Belize and Paraguay are among the 12 countries that maintain diplomatic relations with Taiwan, which China considers part of its territory and will reunify if necessary by force.

Taiwan's Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung visited Belize in September and signed a diplomatic training agreement with Fonseca. Taiwan plans to build a $200 million data center in Paraguay by the end of 2027, which Villate praised as a means to make Paraguay a regional technology hub. Taiwanese President William Lai Ching-te's recent speech, which highlighted Taiwan's diplomatic progress, was seen by Beijing as inciting cross-strait confrontation and undermining peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait.