China’s domestic economy remains weak despite export boom, says Jefferies report
Paraguay and Belize are among the 12 countries that maintain formal diplomatic relations with Taiwan.
The measures include restrictions on entry into mainland China, Hong Kong and Macau, as well as a ban on Chinese organisations and individuals engaging in transactions, cooperation or other activities with the sanctioned officials, China’s foreign ministry said in separate notices. China considers the self-governed island a province of its territory and opposes its recognition as a sovereign state. Taiwan’s government strongly rejects Beijing’s claim. Neither Paraguay’s Ministry of Information and Communication Technologies nor Belize’s foreign ministry immediately responded to requests for comment. Taiwan’s foreign ministry also had no immediate comment. The move follows recent diplomatic engagements between the countries and Taiwan. Belize Foreign Minister Francis Fonseca met his Taiwanese counterpart, Lin Chia-lung, in Belize last month. In June, Paraguay’s Minister of Information and Communication Technologies, Gustavo Villate, met Taiwan Deputy Foreign Minister Chen Ming-chi in Paraguay.
China imposed sanctions on Paraguay’s communications minister and Belize’s foreign minister on Monday over their countries’ diplomatic ties with Taiwan, which Beijing claims as part of its territory.
Beijing maintains that Taiwan is an inseparable part of China and has not ruled out the use of force to bring the island under its control. Taiwan, which has its own democratically elected government and military, maintains that its future can be decided only by its people.