China says sanctions on Latin American ministers over Taiwan ties ‘a warning to others’

Taipei has only 12 diplomatic allies as Beijing, which has threatened to use force to seize the island, seeks to erode its international support.(AFP) — Chinese sanctions against ministers from Paraguay and Belize over their diplomatic relations with Taiwan were “a warning to others,” Beijing said Monday, taking aim at two of the democratic island’s few remaining allies.Latin America is a key diplomatic battleground between China and Taiwan. Beijing claims the island as part of its territory and has systematically pressured countries to cut ties with Taipei in a bid to isolate it.Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said the sanctions against Paraguayan Communications Minister Gustavo Villate and Belizean Foreign Minister Francis Fonseca were designed to “penalize them and serve as a warning to others.”“Certain politicians in Paraguay and Belize have willingly served as pawns of the Taiwan authorities in their attempts to seek ‘independence’ through external support,” Mao told a regular news briefing.The measures against the Latin American ministers included freezing their assets in China, denying them visas and banning Chinese organizations from doing business with them, China’s Foreign Ministry said earlier.The ministers had “taken a series of egregious actions and statements … damaging China’s core interests,” the ministry said.The sanctions were intended to “safeguard national security” and “oppose separatist activities,” it added.Taiwan’s Foreign Ministry condemned China’s statement, calling it “flagrant interference in the sovereignty and foreign policy of independent nations.” The ministry said the statement violated international law and exposed China’s intention to use political intimidation and transnational repression to coerce other countries into submission.The move came two days after Taiwan celebrated its national day, with President Lai Ching-te delivering a speech defending the island’s increasing investment in defense, angering Beijing.Villate marked Taiwan’s national day on social media, saying, “Paraguay reaffirms its relationship of friendship and cooperation, based on shared values and principles: the self-determination of peoples, human rights and democracy.”Taipei has only 12 diplomatic allies as Beijing, which has threatened to use force to seize the island, seeks to erode its international support.Paraguayan President Santiago Peña, who has described Taiwan as a “fundamental partner” for the South American country, visited Taipei this year. During the visit, he signed a series of agreements on mutual legal assistance in criminal matters, cybersecurity cooperation and investment in artificial intelligence and computing.Taiwanese Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung also visited Belize last month, when his ministry said the two sides agreed to deepen ties.Taiwan’s other allies in the Americas include Guatemala and Haiti. It also has formal diplomatic ties with several Caribbean island nations.Subscribe to our free newslettersOur weekly newsletter Closing Arguments offers the latest about ongoing trials, major litigation and rulings in courthouses around the U.S. and the world, while the monthly Under the Lights dishes the legal dirt from Hollywood, sports, Big Tech and the arts.Additional Reads