China has sanctioned one cabinet minister each from Paraguay and Belize, countries that maintain diplomatic relations with Taiwan.

In an announcement on October 12, China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that it has decided to implement "counter-measures" against two individuals: Gustavo Villate, Paraguay's Minister of Information and Communication Technologies, and Francis Fonseca, Belize's Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Trade, Education, Culture, Science and Technology.

The sanctions include the freezing of assets within Chinese territory, a ban on transactions and cooperation with Chinese organizations and individuals, and a denial of visa issuance.

This marks the first time China has directly sanctioned incumbent cabinet-level officials from countries maintaining diplomatic ties with Taiwan.

Minister Villate discussed artificial intelligence (AI) cooperation with François Wu, Taiwan's Deputy Foreign Minister who visited Paraguay in June, while Minister Fonseca met with Taiwan's Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung, who visited his country in September, engaging in official exchanges with Taiwan this year.

The Chinese Foreign Ministry explained the reason for the sanctions, stating, "Anti-China politicians in Paraguay and Belize have supported diplomatic relations with Taiwan for 'selfish interests' and have undermined China's core interests through a series of malicious words and deeds on China-related issues."

Spokesperson Mao Ning said at a briefing, "Certain politicians in Paraguay and Belize have willingly become pawns of the Taiwan authorities, relying on external forces to seek independence, visiting Taiwan, and hosting visits by Taiwan independence elements, thereby severely interfering in China's internal affairs." She added, "They have spread false information about Chinese cyber attacks and attacked and smeared China, creating a negative international impact."

She further noted, "Against individuals who stubbornly support Taiwan independence and separatist forces, China will take all necessary disciplinary measures to firmly safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity. We urge Taiwan's few remaining so-called 'diplomatic allies' not to be repeatedly manipulated and utilized by Taiwan independence separatist forces."

Currently, 12 countries have established official diplomatic relations with Taiwan: Paraguay (its sole remaining ally in South America), Belize and Guatemala in Central America, the Holy See (Vatican), Eswatini in Africa, Palau, Haiti, the Marshall Islands, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, and Tuvalu.

The number of Taiwan's diplomatic allies, which stood at 21 in 2016, has steadily decreased amid China's global "Taiwan isolation" strategy emphasizing the "One China" principle.

(Photo provided by Taiwan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Yonhap News)