By Breaking Belize News Staff: The United States has condemned China’s decision to impose sanctions against Belize’s Foreign Minister Francis Fonseca and a senior Paraguayan official, accusing Beijing of attempting to intimidate countries for exercising their sovereign right to maintain diplomatic relations with Taiwan.
In a statement reported by Reuters on Monday evening, U.S. State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott said the Trump administration strongly opposes China’s actions against countries in the Western Hemisphere.
“The Trump Administration opposes coercion and aggression by China against countries in our hemisphere for exercising their sovereign rights,” Pigott stated.
Pigott also referenced previous remarks by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who warned that Washington would not allow foreign adversaries to use the Western Hemisphere to threaten American security or undermine its international partnerships.
The State Department spokesperson reaffirmed Washington’s commitment to supporting its friends and partners, including Taiwan, in advancing shared prosperity, security and democratic values.
The American response follows China’s announcement on Monday of sanctions against Fonseca and Paraguay’s Minister of Information and Communication Technologies, Gustavo Villate. The measures include travel restrictions, the freezing of any assets they may hold in China and prohibitions against Chinese entities conducting business with them.
Beijing accused the two officials of undermining its sovereignty through their continued support for Taiwan, which China claims as part of its territory.
The Government of Belize has firmly rejected the sanctions, declaring that they will neither alter the country’s foreign policy nor weaken its longstanding diplomatic relationship with Taiwan. Taiwan has also condemned the measures as political intimidation and interference in the sovereignty of independent nations
Belize and Paraguay are among just 12 countries worldwide that maintain formal diplomatic relations with Taiwan.
Washington’s intervention adds a new dimension to the dispute, placing the United States publicly alongside Belize, Paraguay and Taiwan in opposing Beijing’s sanctions. The U.S. statement did not announce any retaliatory measures against China.
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