Politics · China · 35 mins ago
China sanctions officials from Paraguay and Belize over Taiwan support
China announced sanctions against two officials from Paraguay and Belize on October 12.
The measures target Paraguay’s former communications and technology minister and Belize’s foreign affairs minister.
China says they support Taiwan’s independence, which Beijing opposes and regards as a matter of its sovereignty.
The sanctions freeze their assets in China, bar Chinese organizations and individuals from doing business or cooperating with them, and prohibit them from entering mainland China, Hong Kong or Macao.
China says this is its first such action against officials from countries that maintain ties with Taiwan.
The commentary presents the move as a warning to those countries and other politicians not to challenge China’s position on Taiwan.
China says it may take further measures against people it considers to be supporting Taiwan’s independence.
China announced countermeasures against two officials from Paraguay and Belize over their support for Taiwan.
The measures include freezing assets in China, banning transactions and cooperation with them, and barring them from mainland China, Hong Kong and Macao.
China’s Foreign Ministry announced the measures on October 12, according to the article.
The article says this was the first time China had imposed penalties on minister-level officials from countries that maintain so-called diplomatic ties with Taiwan.
China said the officials had supported Taiwan independence and interfered in its internal affairs.
- Who
- China’s Foreign Ministry announced measures against former Paraguayan minister Villate and Belizean minister Fonseca.
- What
- China imposed countermeasures, including asset freezes, transaction and cooperation bans, and entry bans.
- When
- October 12; the year is not stated.
- Where
- The measures apply to assets and dealings in China and entry to mainland China, Hong Kong and Macao.
- Why
- China said the officials supported Taiwan independence and interfered in China’s internal affairs.
China
Officials from Paraguay and Belize supporting Taiwan
Position on Taiwan
China
China says Taiwan is part of China and that the Taiwan question is an internal matter.
Officials from Paraguay and Belize supporting Taiwan
Paraguay’s former president said the country does not remain neutral on Taiwan and supported Taiwan’s participation in the United Nations; Belize’s prime minister made similar remarks.
Response to support for Taiwan
China
China imposed countermeasures, saying it was responding to support for Taiwan independence.
Officials from Paraguay and Belize supporting Taiwan
The article reports the officials’ and governments’ support for Taiwan but gives no direct response to the measures.
Paraguay’s then-president Peña said in a United Nations General Assembly speech that Paraguay did not remain neutral on Taiwan and supported Taiwan’s participation in the United Nations.
Taiwan’s foreign affairs chief visited Belize and Guatemala, according to the article.
Lai Ching-te’s Double Ten speech continued what the article describes as a Taiwan independence narrative.
China’s Foreign Ministry announced countermeasures against Villate and Fonseca.
- Paraguayan official
- Villate, then minister of communications and technology
- Belizean official
- Fonseca, minister of foreign affairs, foreign trade, education, culture, science and technology
- Measures
- Asset freezes, bans on transactions and cooperation, and entry bans
- Scope of entry ban
- Mainland China, Hong Kong and Macao
- Announcement date
- October 12; year not stated
1 source
What people are saying
Those who tie themselves to Taiwan independence forces have no future.
does not remain neutral