China has sanctioned Paraguay's communications minister and Belize's foreign minister over their ties to Taiwan, the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced on Monday.
The measures took effect immediately. They target Paraguay's Communications Minister Gustavo Villate and Belize's Foreign Minister Francis Fonseca.
The sanctions include the freezing of their assets in China, the denial of entry visas to Hong Kong and Macau, and a prohibition on Chinese organisations and individuals engaging in transactions, cooperation, or other activities with the two ministers.
Beijing cited the safeguarding of China's national sovereignty and opposition to what it described as Taiwan separatist activities as the reasons behind the measures.
The Foreign Ministry said "certain anti-China politicians" who are "driven by self-interest" had pushed their nations to maintain diplomatic relations with Taiwan. It added that the ministers had "taken a series of egregious actions and statements", which are "damaging China's core interests".
Paraguay and Belize are among 12 countries that maintain formal diplomatic relations with Taiwan. China views Taiwan as its territory, a position the island's government strongly rejects.
The sanctions were announced two days after Taiwan's National Day celebration. In a speech outside the Presidential Office on Saturday, Taiwan President William Lai Ching-te said the island "cherishes peace" and will "not give up our freedom".
China's Taiwan Affairs Office condemned Lai's speech, saying it "disregards facts, distorts the truth, misleads the public, and reveals ulterior motives".
In January, Chinese President Xi Jinping pledged to achieve the "reunification" of China and Taiwan, calling the goal "unstoppable".
Paraguay's Communications Minister Villate had marked Taiwan's National Day with a social media post stating: "Paraguay reaffirms its relationship of friendship and cooperation, based on shared values and principles: the self-determination of peoples, human rights and democracy."
The Belize embassy in Taiwan also published a message celebrating the 37th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two sides. "Together, we look forward to a future of growth, opportunity, and lasting friendship," the embassy wrote.
Last month, Taiwan's Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung visited Belize. His ministry said the two sides had agreed to deepen ties.
Taiwan's other allies in the Americas include Guatemala and Haiti, as well as three Caribbean island nations.
The United States does not maintain formal diplomatic ties with Taiwan but is bound by law to provide the island with the means to defend itself. Earlier this month, the US delivered two fighter jets to Taiwan as the island works to build its defence capabilities against a feared attack from China.
