China imposes first-ever sanctions on sitting ministers from Taiwan's diplomatic allies... “Undermining core interests”

[Financial News] China has sanctioned one minister each from Paraguay and Belize, which maintain diplomatic relations with Taiwan.
China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in an announcement on the 12th that it had decided to impose “countermeasures” on two officials: Gustavo Villate, Paraguay's Minister of Information and Communications Technology, and Francis Fonseca, Belize's Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Trade, Education, Culture, Science and Technology.
The sanctions include freezing assets in China, banning transactions and cooperation with Chinese organizations and individuals, and prohibiting the issuance of visas.
This is the first time China has directly sanctioned serving minister-level officials from countries that maintain diplomatic ties with Taiwan.
Villate, who was targeted by China's sanctions, discussed cooperation on artificial intelligence (AI) and other matters with Chen Ming-chi, Taiwan's Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs (vice minister), during Chen's visit to Paraguay last June. Fonseca also engaged in official exchanges with Taiwan this year, including meeting Taiwan Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung when Lin Chia-lung visited Belize last September.
China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the sanctions were imposed because “anti-China politicians in Paraguay and Belize have supported diplomatic ties with Taiwan for their own selfish interests” and “undermined China's core interests through a series of egregious words and deeds on matters related to China.”
At a briefing, spokesperson Mao Ning said, “Some politicians in Paraguay and Belize willingly became pawns of the Taiwan authorities, who seek independence by relying on foreign forces. They visited Taiwan and welcomed visits by Taiwan independence separatists, seriously interfering in China's internal affairs.” She added, “They spread false information alleging Chinese cyberattacks, attacked and smeared China, and created a negative international impact.”
She added, “China will take all necessary disciplinary measures against those who stubbornly support Taiwan independence separatist forces, and firmly safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity. We urge the few remaining so-called ‘diplomatic allies’ of the Taiwan authorities not to let Taiwan independence separatist forces repeatedly manipulate and use them. Being tied to Taiwan independence forces offers no future; it only means missing out on development opportunities and becoming isolated from the international community.”
Twelve countries currently maintain official diplomatic relations with Taiwan: Paraguay, its only diplomatic ally in South America; Belize and Guatemala in Central America; the Holy See (Vatican); Eswatini in Africa; Palau; Haiti; the Marshall Islands; Saint Kitts and Nevis; Saint Lucia; Saint Vincent and the Grenadines; and Tuvalu.
The number of Taiwan's diplomatic allies, which stood at 21 through 2016, has steadily declined amid China's global strategy of “isolating Taiwan,” pursued under its “One China” principle.  


[email protected] Lee Seok-woo, international affairs correspondent Reporter