China defended its ties with Latin America and the Caribbean, while condemning recent statements by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on this issue.
During his visit to Central American nations, Rubio criticized this collaboration and accused China of interference in the Panama Canal, while addressing other issues such as the Belt and Road Initiative, 5G, cybersecurity and the “One China” principle.
The spokesman for the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs described these statements as “imprecise” and loaded with “Cold War mentality” and “biased ideology,” and said that the United States seeks to affect relations between China and Latin American countries, while intervening in Beijing’s internal affairs and attacking its legitimate interests.
China reaffirmed its commitment to developing friendly and cooperative relations with Latin America and the Caribbean based on the principles of respect, equality, mutual benefit, openness and inclusiveness. It also stated that the interference of the United States in ties with the region is unsupported and useless.
The Foreign Affairs spokesman stressed that cooperation between China, Latin America and the Caribbean is genuine and is carried out without preconditions, without geopolitical objectives and always for mutual benefit.
China also expressed its support for Panama regarding its sovereignty over the Canal and stressed that it has never participated in the administration or control of the waterway. (PL)
