China has imposed sanctions on Paraguay’s communications minister, Gustavo Villate, and Belize’s foreign minister, Francis Fonseca, for maintaining ties with Taiwan. China’s foreign ministry made the announcement on Monday. The sanctions took effect from the day of the announcement, Al Jazeera reported.
Protecting China’s national sovereignty and opposing Taiwan’s separatist activities were given as the reasons for the step.
The assets of the two ministers in China will be frozen. They will also not be allowed to enter Hong Kong or Macau.
As a result of the sanctions, no Chinese organisation or individual may take part in any kind of transaction, cooperation or other activity with the ministers.
China’s foreign ministry said some “self-interested” “anti-China politicians” had induced their countries to maintain diplomatic relations with Taiwan.
Beijing said the ministers had “taken a number of objectionable steps and made remarks” that were “harming China’s core interests”. Paraguay and Belize are among the 12 countries that maintain formal diplomatic relations with Taiwan.
China regards Taiwan as its own territory. The island’s government has firmly rejected that claim. The step came two days after Taiwan celebrated its national day.
Taiwan’s other allies in the Americas include Guatemala and Haiti. It also has formal diplomatic relations with three island states in the Caribbean.
Earlier this month the United States supplied two fighter aircraft to the island, at a time when Taiwan is trying to strengthen its defence capability in order to deter a possible Chinese attack.
বাংলায় মূল প্রতিবেদন পড়ুন · Read the original Bengali report