China sanctions ‘pawn’ Paraguay, Belize ministers over Taiwan ties
China on Monday placed sanctions on Paraguay's communications minister and the foreign minister of Belize over their countries' ties with Taiwan, saying they were "pawns" who have smeared and attacked Beijing.
China has imposed sanctions on the communications minister of Paraguay and the foreign minister of Belize, accusing them of acting as "pawns" for Taiwan. These ministers are among just 12 diplomats who maintain formal relations with Taiwan, a country Beijing claims as a province and denies the right to statehood. The sanctions, seen as largely symbolic, restrict entry visas to Hong Kong and Macau and prevent Chinese organizations and individuals from engaging in transactions with the two countries.
China's Foreign Ministry stated that the politicians have interfered in China's internal affairs, spread false information about cyberattacks, and smeared China, causing a negative international impact. Taiwan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs had no immediate comment on the sanctions. China cited national sovereignty and security as the justification for the measures.
The sanctions follow a trend of pressure on Taiwan's diplomatic allies, with Nauru being the most recent country to sever ties with Taipei in 2024. Honduras ended its 50-year relationship with Taiwan in 2023. Taiwan's foreign ministry did not provide any comment on the sanctions.
Written by urgent.news from Daily Maverick's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
