Who was sanctioned
China on Monday placed sanctions on two Latin American ministers — Paraguay's Communications Minister Gustavo Villate and Belize's Foreign Minister Francis Fonseca — citing their countries' diplomatic ties with Taiwan. Beijing's foreign ministry announced the measures through two separate notices, and said they take effect from Monday.
The sanctions bar the two ministers from obtaining entry visas to Hong Kong and Macau, freeze any assets they hold in China, and prohibit Chinese organisations and individuals from engaging in transactions, cooperation or other activities with them, according to the ministry. Beijing said it was acting to safeguard national sovereignty and security and to oppose what it described as Taiwan separatist activities.
Why Beijing acted
China's foreign ministry said certain politicians in the two countries, "driven by self-interest", had pushed their nations to maintain formal diplomatic relations with Taiwan, and accused Villate and Fonseca of "a series of egregious actions and statements" damaging China's core interests.
Paraguay and Belize are two of only 12 countries that still maintain formal diplomatic relations with Taiwan. Beijing claims Taiwan as part of its territory, a position the government in Taipei strongly rejects.
The measures come two days after Taiwan's National Day celebrations. In a National Day speech outside the Presidential Office on Saturday, Taiwan's President William Lai Ching-te said the island "cherishes peace" and "will not give up our freedom". China's Taiwan Affairs Office condemned the speech, saying it misled the public and revealed ulterior motives.
Context
Reuters reported that the sanctions are largely symbolic, since ministers from Taiwan's diplomatic allies rarely travel to China. Such measures have previously been applied mainly to Western politicians for their support of democratically governed Taiwan. According to the reports, Belize's Fonseca met his Taiwanese counterpart Lin Chia-lung in Belize last month, while Paraguay's Villate met Taiwan's Deputy Foreign Minister Chen Ming-chi in Paraguay in June. Shortly before Beijing's announcement, the Belize embassy in Taiwan marked the 37th anniversary of the two countries' ties on its Facebook page.
Neither Paraguay's information and communication technologies ministry nor Belize's foreign ministry had immediately responded to requests for comment outside office hours, and Taiwan's foreign ministry also had no immediate comment.
Sources:
Reuters: China sanctions Paraguay, Belize ministers over Taiwan ties
Al Jazeera: China sanctions Paraguay, Belize ministers over Taiwan ties
China on Monday placed sanctions on two Latin American ministers — Paraguay's Communications Minister Gustavo Villate and Belize's Foreign Minister Francis Fonseca — citing their countries' diplomatic ties with Taiwan. Beijing's foreign ministry announced the measures through two separate notices, and said they take effect from Monday.
The sanctions bar the two ministers from obtaining entry visas to Hong Kong and Macau, freeze any assets they hold in China, and prohibit Chinese organisations and individuals from engaging in transactions, cooperation or other activities with them, according to the ministry. Beijing said it was acting to safeguard national sovereignty and security and to oppose what it described as Taiwan separatist activities.
Why Beijing acted
China's foreign ministry said certain politicians in the two countries, "driven by self-interest", had pushed their nations to maintain formal diplomatic relations with Taiwan, and accused Villate and Fonseca of "a series of egregious actions and statements" damaging China's core interests.
Paraguay and Belize are two of only 12 countries that still maintain formal diplomatic relations with Taiwan. Beijing claims Taiwan as part of its territory, a position the government in Taipei strongly rejects.
The measures come two days after Taiwan's National Day celebrations. In a National Day speech outside the Presidential Office on Saturday, Taiwan's President William Lai Ching-te said the island "cherishes peace" and "will not give up our freedom". China's Taiwan Affairs Office condemned the speech, saying it misled the public and revealed ulterior motives.
Context
Reuters reported that the sanctions are largely symbolic, since ministers from Taiwan's diplomatic allies rarely travel to China. Such measures have previously been applied mainly to Western politicians for their support of democratically governed Taiwan. According to the reports, Belize's Fonseca met his Taiwanese counterpart Lin Chia-lung in Belize last month, while Paraguay's Villate met Taiwan's Deputy Foreign Minister Chen Ming-chi in Paraguay in June. Shortly before Beijing's announcement, the Belize embassy in Taiwan marked the 37th anniversary of the two countries' ties on its Facebook page.
Neither Paraguay's information and communication technologies ministry nor Belize's foreign ministry had immediately responded to requests for comment outside office hours, and Taiwan's foreign ministry also had no immediate comment.
Sources:
Reuters: China sanctions Paraguay, Belize ministers over Taiwan ties
Al Jazeera: China sanctions Paraguay, Belize ministers over Taiwan ties
