According to a report by The South China Morning Post on October 17th, Paraguay's Minister of Science and Technology said on Thursday that the sanctions imposed by Beijing against Paraguay for maintaining relations with Taiwan will only accelerate Paraguay's cooperation projects with Taiwan.
Paraguay's Information and Communications Technology Minister Gustavo Villate posted on social media, asserting that Paraguay's relationship with Taipei "will never be a topic of negotiation."
Paraguay is the only country in South America that still maintains so-called "diplomatic relations" with Taiwan. For a long time, Paraguay's agricultural interests have argued that establishing diplomatic relations with Beijing would help export Paraguay's soybeans and beef to the Chinese market.
The Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced on Monday that it will freeze Bijait’s assets within China, prohibit organizations and individuals in China from conducting any transactions or cooperation with him, and ban him from entering mainland China, Hong Kong, and Macau.
China has also taken similar measures against Francis Fengsika, the Foreign Minister of Belize. Belize is one of the 12 countries that still maintain so-called 'diplomatic relations' with Taiwan. Taiwanese media claim that this is the first time Beijing has sanctioned officials from so-called 'diplomatic partners' of Taiwan.
These measures are implemented in accordance with the China's Anti-Foreign Sanctions Law promulgated in 2021. Previously, Beijing mainly used this law to sanction Western politicians and defense companies.
China's Foreign Ministry spokesman Mao Ning said that these two ministers acted as 'pieces of the chessboard' for Taiwan authorities who seek independence through external means. She accused the two of visiting Taiwan, receiving Taiwanese officials whom Beijing considers separatists, and spreading 'false information' regarding China's alleged cyberattacks.
