China Rejects U.S. Pressure Against Latin American Countries
A merchant ship crosses the Panama Canal. X/ @XHespanol
February 7, 2025 Hour: 2:29 pm
Washington wants to undermine China’s influence by destroying the Belt and Road trade and investment cooperation project.
On Friday, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian stated that China criticizes the “pressure and coercion” exerted by the United States following Panama’s decision not to renew its cooperation agreement with China regarding the infrastructure project of the Belt and Road Initiative, led by Beijing.
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He said that China “firmly opposes the actions of the United States to discredit and undermine cooperation” within the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative “through pressure and coercion.” Lin asserted that over 20 Latin American countries have actively participated in the initiative and that the results have benefited the people of all participating nations, including Panama.
“In recent years, China and Panama have achieved fruitful cooperation,” added the Chinese diplomat, while emphasizing that the Belt and Road Initiative “has continuously benefited the people of both countries.”
“China hopes that the Panamanian side will make the right decision in light of the overall bilateral relationship and the long-term interests of the people of both countries, without external interference,” Lin said.
However, Panamanian President Jose Mulino announced that he would allow the agreement to expire after meeting on Sunday with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
Mulino explained that he informed Rubio of his decision not to renew the Belt and Road Initiative memorandum of understanding, which was signed with China in November 2017 under the administration of then-Panamanian President Juan Varela.
On multiple occasions, U.S. President Donald Trump has threatened to “take” the Panama Canal and has criticized the decision of former President Jimmy Carter (1977-1981) to negotiate the treaties that enabled the transfer of the canal to Panama, a process completed in 1999.
Additionally, Trump has claimed that the canal is under Beijing’s control. Meanwhile, China has insisted that it neither participates in the management nor operation of the canal, which it recognizes as a “neutral international infrastructure” whose affairs it has “never interfered in.”
The Belt and Road Initiative is an investment and trade cooperation project launched by Chinese President Xi Jinping in 2013 to connect China with Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and Latin America—something that has raised concerns in Washington over the growing influence of the Asian giant in the region.
teleSUR/ JF Sources: Chinese FM – Agencies
