China announced on Monday, October 12, sanctions against two ministers from Paraguay and Belize due to the diplomatic relations maintained by their countries with Taiwan. This decision, strongly condemned by Taipei, comes amid growing pressures from Beijing on the last diplomatic allies of the island.

The sanctions target Paraguayan Minister of Information and Communication Technologies, Gustavo Villate, and Belizean Foreign Minister, Francis Fonseca. Beijing accuses them of adopting 'anti-China' positions and undermining its interests.