Illustration of a columned government building between palm trees at dusk, illustrating China sanctions on Paraguay and Belize officials.

China Sanctions Paraguay and Belize Ministers Over Taiwan Ties

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China sanctions Paraguay and Belize officials in a new move against Taiwan’s remaining diplomatic partners. On Monday, Oct. 12, Beijing announced countermeasures against Paraguay’s Minister of Information and Communication Technologies, Gustavo Emigdio Villate Samaniego, and Belize’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Francis Fonseca, citing their dealings with Taiwan.

Both governments rejected the measures within hours and said their ties with Taipei would not change. Washington also criticized the step, turning a narrow sanctions notice into a fresh test of Chinese pressure in the Western Hemisphere.

How China sanctions Paraguay and Belize officials

China’s foreign ministry published the decision on its website and said it was acting under the country’s Anti-Foreign Sanctions Law, Xinhua reported. According to Taiwan News and the Associated Press, the measures:

  • freeze any assets the two ministers hold in China;
  • bar Chinese organizations and individuals from doing business or cooperating with them; and
  • ban both men from entering mainland China, Hong Kong and Macau.

In practical terms, neither minister is likely to hold significant assets in China, since neither country has formal diplomatic relations with Beijing. The step is mainly a political signal aimed at other governments that still recognize Taipei.

Beijing’s stated reasons

Foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning described the sanctions as “an action of warning and deterrence.” She said certain politicians in Paraguay and Belize had made visits to Taiwan and hosted what Beijing calls “Taiwan independence” separatist forces in their countries, which China views as interference in its internal affairs.

Mao also accused the officials of spreading what she called “Chinese cyberattack” disinformation. She urged the small number of countries that still maintain diplomatic ties with Taiwan to avoid being “manipulated,” and warned that siding with Taipei would cost them development opportunities.

The move follows a pattern of steadily rising pressure on Taiwan’s partners. Taiwan, meanwhile, has been raising defense spending, as covered in our report on President Lai’s record Taiwan defense budget pledge.

Paraguay and Belize push back

Villate told Paraguayan newspaper ABC Color that the sanctions “were to be expected” given the technology projects his country is pursuing with Taiwan, according to Taiwan News. He pointed to a planned binational data center in Chaco’i and an invitation for Taiwan-based Foxconn to join the Yguazu digital AI hub. He called the sanctions a “medal of honor” and said Paraguay would push its joint technology agenda with Taiwan even harder at the direction of President Santiago Peña.

Paraguay’s foreign ministry said in a statement on X that the sanctions created “unnecessary friction” and reaffirmed its support for Taiwan. Paraguay is Taiwan’s only remaining diplomatic ally in South America.

Belize’s foreign ministry condemned the measures as unwarranted. “Belize is a sovereign and independent state,” it said, adding that its relationship with Taiwan has delivered cooperation in health, education, infrastructure, agriculture and environmental protection. The ministry said Fonseca acted in his official capacity and that the government stands fully behind him. “These measures will not alter Belize’s foreign policy,” it said.

U.S. and Taiwan reactions

The U.S. State Department weighed in quickly. “The Trump Administration opposes coercion and aggression by China against countries in our hemisphere for exercising their sovereign rights,” spokesperson Tommy Pigott told Reuters.

Taiwan has been expanding economic links in Latin America and the Caribbean, including a new office focused on trade with the region that opened in July, according to Taiwan News. Taiwan and Belize also signed a diplomatic training agreement on Sept. 30, the outlet reported.

The dispute adds another layer to an already complicated U.S.-China relationship that has recently centered on trade, as explained in our guide to the US-China 30-for-30 tariff framework.

Why it matters

Targeting sitting ministers, rather than retired politicians or activists, marks a sharper use of China’s sanctions toolkit against small states. Beijing has previously relied on offers of trade, loans and investment to persuade governments to switch recognition from Taipei. Sanctions on individual officials raise the personal cost for leaders who deepen ties with Taiwan.

For Paraguay, the stakes involve its plans to position itself as a regional hub for data centers and AI infrastructure built with Taiwanese partners. For Belize, the dispute tests a relationship with Taipei that dates to 1989. Both governments say they will not budge. The next signals to watch are whether Beijing adds more names, whether other Taiwan allies face similar steps, and whether Washington backs its statement with new support for the two countries.

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