China sanctions two ministers over Taiwan ties

China defended sanctions on two ministers from Paraguay and Belize on Monday, Oct. 12, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said at a press conference reported by Firstpost.

The step carries diplomatic weight because Taiwan has 12 formal allies worldwide as of Oct. 12, according to the Firstpost news report, including Paraguay and Belize in the Americas.

The sanctions apply to Paraguay’s Communications Minister Gustavo Villate and Belize’s Foreign Minister Francis Fonseca. China’s Foreign Ministry said the measures freeze any assets the two officials hold in China, bar them from entering the country and prohibit Chinese organisations and individuals from doing business with them.

Mao said the action was intended both to penalise the two officials and to deter others from backing Taiwan’s international engagement, according to the report. Beijing said the ministers had made statements and taken actions that harmed what China calls its core interests.

China regards Taiwan as part of its territory and, according to the report, has not ruled out using force to bring the island under its control. Beijing described the sanctions as necessary to protect national security and oppose activity it labels separatist.

Taiwan criticised the measures, saying Beijing was interfering in sovereign decisions by independent countries. Taipei said the sanctions reflected China’s use of pressure and intimidation to push governments to abandon diplomatic relations with the island.

The dispute followed Taiwan’s national day, when President Lai Ching-te defended the island’s increased spending on defence capabilities, according to the report. Beijing viewed those remarks as part of Taiwan’s effort to resist unification.

Paraguay has maintained public support for its relationship with Taiwan. Villate marked Taiwan’s national day on social media, saying the partnership was based on shared principles including democracy, human rights and self-determination.

Paraguayan President Santiago Pena has also described Taiwan as a fundamental partner for his country. During a visit to Taipei earlier this year, he signed agreements covering mutual legal assistance in criminal matters, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence and computing investment.

Belize has kept its own official channel with Taipei. Taiwan’s foreign minister, Lin Chia-lung, visited Belize last month, and Taipei said the trip produced an agreement to deepen cooperation between the two sides.

Latin America is one of the regions where Beijing and Taipei continue to compete for diplomatic recognition. The report said China has steadily persuaded countries to switch recognition to Beijing, leaving Taipei with a small group of formal partners.

In the Americas, Paraguay, Belize, Guatemala and Haiti are among Taiwan’s remaining diplomatic partners, along with several Caribbean nations. Those relationships give Taipei formal state-to-state channels even as Beijing seeks to limit Taiwan’s international space.

The report did not include direct responses from the governments of Paraguay or Belize to China’s latest sanctions. It also did not say whether Villate or Fonseca hold China-based assets that would be affected by the freeze.

Source: news report, Firstpost, Oct. 12, 2026