Taiwan Minister Visited Belize, But Media Shut Out

The visit may have strengthened Belize’s relationship with Taiwan, but it left local journalists with unanswered questions. Despite the Taiwanese Foreign Minister’s high-profile trip, reporters never got the chance to question him directly about Taiwan’s partnership with Belize or the growing diplomatic pressure from China. There was no press conference and no media engagement. So why was the visiting minister kept beyond the media’s reach? We put that question to Foreign Affairs Minister Francis Fonseca and also asked him about plans to relocate the Taiwanese Embassy from Belize City to Belmopan.

 

Francis Fonseca, Minister of Foreign Affairs

“We work with the Embassy of Taiwan in Belize to coordinate these visits. Obviously they make certain decisions, we make certain decisions. But certainly, we would have been fully prepared to make him available to the media. So, I don’t know why there was not a specific press conference of that nature. I certainly would apologize for that on behalf of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for not organizing a media engagement directly between ourselves and the media.”

 

Reporter

“Would you be able to confirm if during that time there was a ground breaking for the new Taiwan embassy?”

 

Francis Fonseca

“I don’t think there was a ground breaking. I think they visited the site. The foreign minister wanted to see the proposed site of the building. So, I think they visited that site.”

 

Reporter

“Is there any reason why they are moving it to Belmopan?”

 

Francis Fonseca

“Well Belmopan is the capital city. So, we encourage all embassies to have their headquarters in Belmopan.”

 

We will continue to follow these developments regarding China’s sanctions and its effects on Belize.

 

Attention readers: This online newscast is a direct transcript of our evening television broadcast. When speakers use Kriol, we have carefully rendered their words using a standard spelling system.

 

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