BEIJING: Responding to a question regarding US embassy’s claims about replacing Huawei telecommunication towers in Panama with what it called “trusted US technology” and that the US is working to “counter malign Chinese influence in our hemisphere, making the American continent stronger and safer,” and Panama President’s demand for the US Embassy to stop meddling in its domestic affairs, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said at a regular press conference on Monday that the US has long engaged in surveillance, monitoring, and cyberattacks in Latin America and the Caribbean regions, bringing negative influence to the Western Hemisphere and making countries on the American continent feel unsafe.
China has always supported Latin American and Caribbean countries, including Panama, in upholding independence and autonomy, and opposes hegemony, bullying, and foreign interference, Guo said.
He stressed that China’s friendly cooperation with the region is based on mutual respect, equality, mutual benefit, openness, inclusiveness, and win-win outcomes, adding that China does not seek spheres of influence, does not engage in geopolitical competition, and never coerces countries into taking sides.
“Latin America and the Caribbean are not anyone’s backyard. The US should put away its domineering attitude, stop politicizing economic, trade and technological issues, stop interfering in other countries’ internal affairs and undermining their sovereignty, stop coercing others into taking sides and limiting dialogue and cooperation, and instead focus its energy on promoting regional peace, stability, and prosperity,” Guo added.
