South China Morning Post
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US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo delivers a speech in Santiago, Chile, on April 12, 2019, kicking off a four-country tour of Latin America. Photo: AP
Opinion
Editorial
by SCMP Editorial
Editorial
by SCMP Editorial

US criticism of China’s Latin American links is without evidence

  • Beijing is not trying to create a sphere of influence or compete with Washington
  • Its goals are straightforward – cooperation and partnership that leads to shared development and prosperity
SCMP Editorial
SCMP Editorial
Why you can trust SCMP
The length to which the United States is willing to go to diminish China’s rise seemingly knows no bounds. In blatantly undiplomatic language, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo criticised Beijing’s growing links with Latin American countries during a recent trip to the region by labelling them as dangers that would lead to corruption, debt traps, bad governance, disorder and erosion of national security. He has no evidence, and governments that have embraced the trade and investment offered by Beijing through policies like the “Belt and Road Initiative” have no such fears. It would be the same for Washington were it to offer similar cooperation and prospects for growth and prosperity rather than issuing rhetoric and threats of punishment to countries that do not do as it says.

Pompeo’s visit to Chile, Colombia, Paraguay and Peru was promoted by US President Donald Trump’s administration as being aimed at increasing pressure on Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro to step aside and hand power to opposition leader Juan Guaido. Washington thinks of Latin America as its backyard and has a century-long record of using influence or force to overthrow governments it does not like. The secretary of state was following a well-worn path. Beijing’s support for Maduro and its ever-friendlier relations and strengthening ties in the region were therefore cause for him to try to discredit its actions.

Apart from visiting Venezuelan refugees, Pompeo warned governments against using equipment made by the Chinese technology giant Huawei, claiming it poses a security risk. The same unproven allegation has been made to allies in Asia and Europe, to limited success. In Chile, he also hit out at China’s investments, contending its companies “enter the house, set traps, ignore the rules and propagate disorder”. His remarks were ironic; that is precisely what the US has long done in the region through its self-interested, damaging policies.

Trump has targeted governments perceived as infringing on US interests. His fixation with building a wall on the Mexican border to keep out asylum seekers and a hardline policy towards migrants, especially those from Central America, has won him low marks in the region. Sanctions have been imposed on Venezuela and military action hinted at, improved ties with Cuba steadily rolled back and pressure put on Nicaragua’s President Daniel Ortega to restore democracy. It is little wonder that governments are looking to China, which has a stated policy of not interfering in domestic affairs.

Latin America’s governments have the right to choose who they work with. China is not trying to create a sphere of influence or compete with the US. Its goals are straightforward – cooperation and partnership that leads to shared development and prosperity.

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