China sanctions Paraguay and Belize ministers over Taiwan ties

China said it has imposed sanctions on Paraguayan Communications Minister Gustavo Villate and Belizean Foreign Minister Francis Fonseca over their countries’ diplomatic ties with Taiwan, adding that the measures are intended as a warning to other governments. China’s Foreign Ministry said the restrictions include freezing any assets the ministers hold in China, denying them visas and entry, and prohibiting Chinese organizations and individuals from doing business or cooperating with them. The ministry said the measures were intended to protect China’s sovereignty and security and to oppose actions it considers supportive of Taiwan independence. Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said the ministers had acted against China’s interests and accused them of serving Taiwan’s efforts to seek independence. Beijing has described their actions as interference in its internal affairs; those allegations were not independently established in the reports. Mao said the sanctions were also meant to warn others against maintaining ties with Taiwan.