Latin America has been under temptation from China in recent years large-scale economic investment projects. The communist state maintains a dangerous grip on the region's telecommunications, lithium and copper industries, ports and other critical infrastructure. The next U.S. administration will play a critical role in containing and even reversing the dangers of this new threat.
In March of this year, Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) expressed Big concerns about investment from China. “Communist China became the world's largest auto exporter through massive state subsidies, forced labor, intellectual property theft, and other destructive policies,” Rubio said. Another strong critic of China is Rep. Mike Walz (R-Florida). noticed China “goes to poor countries, gives them loans even when they know they won't be able to repay them, and uses things like ports and power grids as collateral.” [and] Mr. Rubio and Mr. Walz will be among the Trump administration's key foreign policy and national security figures.
China does not offer the same happiness and prosperity as the American business model. Brazil last week construction was halted Slavery-like conditions have led to the closure of Chinese car factories. Officials say 163 Chinese nationals were brought to Brazil illegally and forced to work in harsh conditions.
According to international organizations such as end slavery nowRepression and human rights violations are major problems in China, where ethnic and religious minorities (Christians, Muslims, etc.) are subjected to forced labor in the name of “re-education.” That's how communist countries compete with American products at lower prices.
Human Rights Watch pointed out Chinese automakers are said to be involved in forced labor. Government abuses include arbitrary detention, cultural and religious persecution, and deportation and relocation programs for more than 1 million people.
According to world slavery indexIn 2021, 5.7 million people experienced forced labor or forced marriage in China. China, North Korea, and Eritrea are among the major countries that practice and promote modern slavery within and outside their borders.
Despite this abusive business model, China has invested billions of dollars in Latin America. a united nations report According to , from 2000 to 2022, merchandise trade between Latin America and China expanded 35 times, while the region's total global trade only increased four times. Bilateral trade, which amounted to just over $14 billion in 2000, totaled nearly $500 billion in 2022. China is on the offensive, which is why the next American president is determined to stop it.
Telecommunications and information technology are also attracting China's attention. 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 20 years, U.S. government officials have Raised national and economic security concerns regarding HuaweiHe cited ties with the Chinese government and military as the reason.
asian giant control It is a major supplier of communications technology to Latin America's lithium and copper industries, as well as to all important sectors in terms of trade, defense and security.
The only way to stop China's accelerating advances in Latin America remains the countervailing power of democracy and stronger European and American leadership.
Trade with the United States is a privilege, not a right. That's why all countries with strong ties to China need to reconsider their priorities. To support China is to support modern slavery and human rights abuses, but most importantly, to stand with China is to stand with a country that challenges the economic security of the United States. .
A comprehensive and thorough review of China-Latin America relations is urgently needed to further enhance the continent's security, prosperity, and democracy.
Arturo McFields Yescas is a former ambassador to Nicaragua to the Organization of American States, an exiled journalist, and a former member of the Norwegian Peace Corps.
