Paraguay and Belize condemn China sanctions

RIGHT TO DIPLOMACY: Under the UN Charter, every state has the right to conduct foreign policy free from external pressure, Belize said in a statement

• By Jake Chung / Staff writer

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Belize and Paraguay on Monday condemned Beijing sanctions over their countries’ ties with Taiwan, saying China’s actions create unnecessary tensions.

Earlier on Monday, Beijing announced sanctions against Paraguayan Minister of Information and Communication Technologies Gustavo Villate and Belizean Minister of Foreign Affairs Francis Fonseca.

The Paraguayan Ministry of Foreign Affairs said it rejected the sanctions, writing on X that they created unnecessary friction.

Belizean Minister of Foreign Affairs Francis Fonseca speaks during the 79th Session of the UN General Assembly in New York on Sept. 28, 2024.

Photo: AFP

It added that it reaffirmed its support for Taiwan and its commitment to democratic values and principles.

Villate told the Spanish-language Paraguayan daily ABC Color the sanctions were “predictable” and linked them to several cooperation projects between Taiwan and Paraguay.

The projects include a planned data center in Nueva Asuncion that incorporates security standards to prevent foreign interference in the companies involved in the project, he said.

Paraguayan Minister of Information and Communication Technologies Gustavo Villate , second left, meets then minister of Digital Affairs Audrey Tang, second right, at the Ministry of Digital Affairs in Taipei in 2024.

Photo courtesy of Administration for Cybersecurity, MODA

He also said that Hon Hai Precision Industry Co (鴻海精密) had been invited to establish operations in Paraguay and participate in the “Yguazu Digital” project, an artificial intelligence-focused technology hub.

Meanwhile, the Belizean Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement that the sanctions would not alter Belize’s foreign policy and the government could continue to stand behind Fonseca.

“Measures directed at an individual for carrying out the lawful duties of his office are unwarranted, and we reject them,” it said.

Under the UN Charter, “every state has the right to conduct its foreign policy free from external pressure,” it added.

Belize’s relationship with Taiwan “was established by a sovereign decision of our country,” and the partnership has delivered in development, healthcare, education, infrastructure, the environment and agriculture for the benefit of Belizeans, it said.

In Taipei, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs earlier condemned China’s sanctions, calling them an attempt to interfere in other countries’ internal affairs and pressure them over their foreign policies.

The sanctions violated the principles of international law and infringed on other countries’ sovereignty and foreign policy, while highlighting Beijing’s attempts to use intimidation and transnational repression to force other nations to submit to its political agenda, it said.

The ministry reiterated that the Republic of China is a sovereign and independent country, and that it and the People’s Republic of China are not subordinate to each other.

This is an internationally recognized fact and reflects the objective reality across the Taiwan Strait, the ministry said, adding that Beijing has no right to interfere in Taiwan’s diplomatic relations.