By Zoila Palma: Minister of Foreign Affairs Francis Fonseca says that he was shocked when he found out that China had announced sanctions against him.
Fonseca says that while the sanctions do not affect him personally because he does not have any assets in China, it should be treated with seriousness since it appears to be a “coercive measure” by China.
“It doesn’t affect me personally. And obviously, I do not have any assets in… in China. But it is a very serious matter, and I think we should treat it with absolute seriousness. I think, you know, the fundamental issue is, you know, the right of small states like Belize to determine our own foreign policy-who we establish diplomatic relations with, who are our friends.
In this case, as you all know, Belize has had diplomatic relations with Taiwan for 37 years. Across political administrations, we have maintained those diplomatic relations because we believe, I think across party lines, that that relationship with Taiwan has been in the national interest of the people and country of Belize. So, we as a government have determined that we want to continue to have diplomatic relations with the People’s Republic of China, Taiwan, and that is our sovereign right to do so, to… to forge our own foreign policy. And so, this is an act, really, of interference with our right or sovereign right as a nation to chart our own course,” Fonseca explained.
Fonseca said that this coercive measure that they have placed on him as an individual who is currently the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Belize has no impact on Belize or Belizeans, since it noted that Belizeans can still travel to China.
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