Chinese regime tightens control over critical infrastructure in Latin America

General Laura Richardson, commander of Southern Command, warned of the threat posed by China’s expansion in Latin America. The communist regime has invested billions of dollars in infrastructure projects aimed at economic purposes and potential military operations.

China is conquering America’s backyard. Offering poisoned candy: big projects in exchange for debt traps, unequal trade, and military cooperation. And most worryingly, China is looking to do more than cooperate with traditional allies such as Cuba, Nicaragua, and Venezuela.

According to a report by the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean, between 2000 and 2022, trade in goods between the region and China expanded more than 35 times, while the region’s total global trade increased by 4. It is said that the number has remained at double. Bilateral trade, which in 2000 amounted to just over $14 billion, totaled nearly $500 billion in 2022.

Telecommunications plays an important role. Huawei, which will be banned in the US in 2022, is Latin America’s fastest-growing telecommunications company, reaching $4.89 billion in 2023. For more than two decades, U.S. government officials have expressed national and economic security concerns because of Huawei’s ties to national security. Chinese government and military.

In Brazil, China’s state-owned power transmission company won the largest power grid auction in December. The Chinese company will invest $4.4 billion and build 1,468 kilometers of line in 72 months.

Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has also been responsible for opening the door to China’s dictatorship. During his visit to China, Lula spoke about ending the dollar’s hegemony and strengthening commerce in other currencies.

Peru has announced that it will roll out the red carpet for Chinese dictator Xi Jinping as the guest of honor at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Forum and the opening ceremony of the port of Chancay this November. The Chinese military is not far behind this $3.5 billion project that secures China’s dangerous gateway to South America. Asian company Cosco Shipping holds a majority stake in the project. It plays an important role in the export of soybeans, lithium and copper.

Argentina’s President Javier Millay maintains a different attitude towards China. He says no to Chinese military equipment. In an unprecedented move, he chose to purchase American F-16 aircraft, a slap in the face to the Red Empire. Milley also attacked China’s global economic strategy. Argentina has said no to the invitation to join the BRICS group (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa).

China doesn’t give anything away for free. It not only calls for severing ties with Taiwan, but also for Taiwan’s distorted human rights model to be praised and defended at the United Nations, or at least to remain silent in the face of it.

The Communist Dragon does not hide its multipurpose projects. China promotes low-quality products, questionable reputations, low-wage jobs and human rights abuses.

The Asian giant not only dominates Latin America’s lithium and copper industries, but is also a major supplier of communications technology for all important sectors in terms of trade, defense and security.

Undoubtedly, the only guarantee against China’s accelerating expansion in Latin America remains democracy and countervailing power from stronger European and American leadership.

Countries surrendering to China today should look at themselves in the mirror of countries in Africa and Asia, where China’s intimidation, sovereignty violations, human rights abuses, and environmental destruction all manifest themselves in the fine print of their agreements with China. .

The commander of US Southern Command said it was time to get on the field to compete for contracts in these countries while still considering a deal with China. “We must accelerate the process of turning economic security into national security.” she said. This seems like the best way to contain the Chinese threat, but it needs to start now. Tomorrow may be too late.

Arturo McFields is an exiled Nicaraguan journalist, former ambassador to the Organization of American States, and former member of the Norwegian Peace Corps.