Belizean Prime Minister John Briceño has strongly criticized China’s sanctions against Belizean Foreign Affairs Minister Francis Fonseca, labeling them as unjustified and illegal. This response comes after China sanctioned Fonseca for attending an event in Taipei celebrating Taiwan’s Double Ten National Day. The sanctions include the freezing of any assets the officials might hold in China, banning Chinese entities from engaging in business with them, and denying them entry into mainland China, Hong Kong, and Macau.
Briceño made his remarks during the annual meetings of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank in Bangkok. He emphasized that Belize, as an independent nation, has the right to establish its own foreign policy and decisions. His statements underscore Belize’s steadfastness in maintaining diplomatic relations with Taiwan, despite China’s pressure.
The sanctions also targeted Paraguayan Minister of Information and Communication Technologies Gustavo Villate, who attended the same event in Taiwan. Beijing views Taiwan as part of its territory and disapproves of any official international engagement with the island. However, Belize remains among the few countries that continue to support Taiwan diplomatically.
The prime minister asserted that the sanctions would only reinforce Belize’s commitment to Taiwan. He described the measures as a demonstration of diplomatic tensions over Taiwan’s international status and the challenges faced by countries that maintain formal ties with the island. Despite China’s actions, Belize is determined to stand by Taiwan and uphold its diplomatic ties.