China Sanctions Belize’s Foreign Minister Francis Fonseca

China’s decision to impose sanctions on Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade Minister Francis Fonseca made international headlines over Belize’s long holiday weekend. Minister Fonseca says the news took him by surprise, and that the move must be taken seriously. He asserts that he has no assets in China and has never visited the mainland, yet he says there is more at stake than any personal impact. Reporter Paul Diaz has the story.

Paul Diaz, Love News: Foreign Minister Francis Fonseca is responding to sanctions announced by China and Monday over Belize’s diplomatic relationship with Taiwan. Beijing’s measures include freezing any assets Fonseca may hold in China, prohibiting Chinese individuals and organizations from doing businesses or cooperating with him, and barring his entry into mainland China, Hong Kong and Macau. China says the action is intended to protect its sovereignty and oppose what it describes as support for Taiwanese independence. Fonseca says the announcement caught him by surprise while he has no assets in China and has never visited the mainland. He says the decision deserves a serious response. 

Francis Fonseca, Minister of Foreign Affairs: “I got a message very early in the morning, I think around 5:30 or so. So yeah, my initial reaction was, you know, where did this come from? So I was surprised, I was shocked. That was my initial reaction. It doesn’t affect me personally and obviously I do not have any assets in China. But it is a very serious matter. And I think we should treat it with absolute seriousness.”

Paul Diaz, Love News:  The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has rejected any sanctions as unwarranted. It says Fonseca was carrying out his official responsibilities on the government’s instructions and in Belize’s national interest. The government says the measures will neither change its foreign policy nor weaken its commitment to Taiwan. that relationship marked 37 years in October 11th just one day before China announced the sanctions. Fonseca maintains that Belize has the right to choose its allies and diplomatic partners. He also reaffirmed the country’s long-standing ties with Taiwan. 

Francis Fonseca, Minister of Foreign Affairs: “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.”

Paul Diaz, Love News:  The United States has also condemned Beijing’s decision. State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott says the Trump administration opposes Chinese coercion and aggression against countries in this hemisphere for exercising their sovereign rights. China also sanctioned Paraguay’s Minister of Information and Communication Technologies Gustavo Viette. Belize and Paraguay are among 12 countries that maintain formal diplomatic relations with Taiwan. Beijing claims Taiwan as its territory, a position Taiwan’s government rejects. For Fonseca the response rests on fundamental principles governing relationships between countries including Belize’s freedom to make its own foreign policy decision.

Francis Fonseca, Minister of Foreign Affairs: “This is an act really of interference with our right, our sovereign right as a nation to chart our own course when it comes to foreign policy. And I think all Belizeans should recognize that. So we take it very seriously. You know, if we allow these fundamental principles, you know, of non-intervention, of sovereign equality, if we allow those fundamental principles to be undermined, especially as small states then we are all less secure, all small states are less secure. So it’s very important. This goes beyond Belize. It’s very important for everybody to understand the importance, the fundamental importance of those principles really to the existence of small states like Belize and so that’s why we have treated it so seriously.”

Paul Diaz, Love News: Belize’s government says it remains committed to peaceful relations and dialogue, it is calling on countries to refrain from coercive measures against officials of other states while making clear that this relationship with Taiwan will continue.