EXCLUSIVE/Belize PM vows stronger support for Taiwan after China sanctions

Bangkok, Oct. 14 (CNA) Belize Prime Minister John Briceño said Wednesday that China's sanctions against Belize's foreign minister were "uncalled for," "unjustified," "wrong" and "illegal," adding that the move would only strengthen Belize's resolve to keep supporting Taiwan.

Briceño made the remarks in an interview with CNA in Bangkok, where he was attending the annual meetings of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank.

"We are very concerned and disappointed that China would take such a position," Briceño said, referring to Beijing's decision to impose sanctions on Belizean Foreign Minister Francis Fonseca.

"We believe that we are an independent country and, as an independent country, we should be allowed to make our own decisions," he said. "We believe that we are doing the right thing by standing with Taiwan."

Briceño said the sanctions would have no impact on Belize's commitment to maintaining relations with Taiwan.

China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced Monday that it had imposed what it described as "countermeasures" against Fonseca and Paraguayan Minister of Information and Communication Technologies Gustavo Villate.

The measures include freezing any movable, immovable or other assets belonging to the two officials within China, prohibiting Chinese organizations and individuals from conducting transactions or engaging in cooperation with them, and denying them visas and entry into China, including Hong Kong and Macau.

Beijing announced the sanctions after Fonseca and Villate attended an event in Taipei celebrating Republic of China (Taiwan) National Day.