The United States has condemned China’s decision to sanction officials from Belize and Paraguay over their countries’ diplomatic ties with Taiwan, accusing Beijing of using coercion against nations exercising their sovereign rights.
US State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott said the Trump administration opposed China’s actions against countries in the Western Hemisphere that maintained relations with Taiwan.
“The Trump Administration opposes coercion and aggression by China against countries in our hemisphere for exercising their sovereign rights,” Pigott said in a statement.
He also cited previous remarks by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who said Washington would not allow the region to become a base for adversaries and rivals to threaten US security or undermine its partnerships.
“We stand with our friends and partners, including Taiwan, to advance our shared prosperity, security, and values,” Pigott added.
Belize and Paraguay are among only 12 countries that maintain formal diplomatic relations with Taiwan. China considers Taiwan part of its territory and rejects its claim to statehood, a position strongly opposed by Taiwan’s government.
Beijing’s sanctions are largely symbolic, as officials from Taiwan’s diplomatic allies generally do not travel to China. Beijing has previously imposed similar measures, particularly against Western politicians who support Taiwan’s democratically elected government.
The United States remains Taiwan’s most important international backer despite the absence of formal diplomatic relations between Washington and Taipei.
Washington has also expressed concern over China’s efforts to persuade Taiwan’s remaining diplomatic allies to sever ties with the island, as well as Beijing’s growing influence in Latin America.
Speaking to reporters at Taiwan’s parliament on Tuesday, Deputy Foreign Minister Chen Ming-chi accused China of extending what he described as “transnational repression” to Taiwan’s diplomatic partners.
“Taiwan’s international visibility is growing higher and higher, and they will be kept busy by this fact,” Chen said, referring to China. “Do they plan to sanction the whole world?”
China has intensified pressure on Taiwan’s remaining diplomatic allies to switch recognition to Beijing. The most recent country to sever formal ties with Taipei was the Pacific island nation of Nauru in 2024, while Honduras ended decades-long diplomatic relations with Taiwan in 2023.
