China Sanctions Paraguay, Belize Ministers Over Taiwan Ties

· Politics · China · Taiwan

China announced sanctions against Paraguay's Communications Minister Gustavo Villate and Belize's Foreign Minister Francis Fonseca over their countries' diplomatic ties with Taiwan. The measures include freezing their property and assets in China, denying them visas and barring Chinese organisations from doing business with them. Paraguay and Belize are among just 12 countries that maintain formal diplomatic relations with Taiwan. The move came as Taiwan said it was closely monitoring a series of Chinese live-fire drills, with the closest exercise off China's eastern Zhejiang province; China has issued no-sail notices for five areas from October 8, though none around Taiwan itself.

Why it matters：Beijing is using targeted sanctions and military drills to raise the cost of Taiwan recognition, a pressure campaign that affects a shrinking group of states.

Key points

  • Sanctions target Paraguay's communications minister and Belize's foreign minister over Taiwan ties
  • Measures include asset freezes in China, visa denials and a ban on Chinese entities doing business with them
  • Taiwan is monitoring Chinese live-fire drills with the closest off Zhejiang, though none around Taiwan itself

Sources (original reporting)

More stories from this day