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China Sanctions Paraguay and Belize Ministers Over Taiwan Ties
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CNBC TV18•12-10-2026, 12:21
China Sanctions Paraguay and Belize Ministers Over Taiwan Ties
- •China imposed sanctions on Paraguay Communications Minister Gustavo Villate and Belize Foreign Minister Francis Fonseca over their diplomatic ties with Taiwan.
- •The sanctions include freezing assets in China, banning transactions with Chinese entities, and denying entry visas to both officials.
- •Beijing claims the measures are necessary to safeguard its sovereignty and counter what it describes as separatist activities by Taiwan.
- •Paraguay and Belize are among the 12 countries that currently maintain formal diplomatic relations with Taiwan.
- •The move highlights Beijing's ongoing efforts to isolate Taiwan internationally as the self-governed island seeks to strengthen ties with its remaining allies.
Key Questions Answered
China imposed sanctions on Paraguay’s Communications and Technology Minister Gustavo Villate and Belize’s Foreign Minister Francis Fonseca for supporting official relations with Taiwan.
China will freeze any assets the two ministers hold in the country, prohibit Chinese organisations and individuals from engaging in transactions or cooperation with them, and deny them entry visas.
Following recent severance of ties by Honduras in 2023 and Nauru in 2024, Taiwan is left with 12 formal diplomatic allies.
