US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo ‘saddened’ as Italy signs up for China’s belt and road project
- US’ senior diplomat steps up warnings of Chinese ‘debt trap’ and says countries that join Beijing’s initiative ‘ultimately lose’
- Italy signed a “non-binding” protocol with visiting President Xi Jinping to become part of the Chinese project.
Italy signed a “non-binding” protocol with visiting President Xi Jinping on Saturday that made it the first nation in the Group of Seven economies to become part of the Chinese project.
“It’s disappointing any time any country begins to engage in behaviour and commercial interactions with China that aren’t straight up,” Pompeo told the House foreign affairs committee in response to a question about the Italian decision.
“We’re saddened because we think the people of those countries ultimately lose.”
Under the initiative, China is funding major rail, road and sea infrastructure as it seeks to increase international trade.
But Pompeo said China practised “debt-trap diplomacy” with its state-owned or state-controlled enterprises looking after only their own interests.