China has sharply criticized U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio for making what it called \"baseless accusations\" about Sino-Latin American cooperation during his recent Central American tour. A Foreign Ministry spokesperson stated Friday that Rubio's comments reflected a \"Cold War mentality\" aimed at disrupting China's partnerships in the region.
Cooperation vs. Confrontation
The spokesperson emphasized China's commitment to \"mutual respect, equality, and win-win cooperation\" with Latin American and Caribbean (LAC) nations, dismissing claims of geopolitical competition. \"Our collaboration creates jobs, improves infrastructure, and respects local needs – no strings attached,\" they said.
Tech Tensions Escalate
Addressing cybersecurity concerns, Beijing highlighted global demand for Chinese 5G technology: \"Smear campaigns won't stop innovation. Cutting others off from our secure, efficient services means missing opportunities.\" Over 25 LAC countries currently use Huawei infrastructure.
Taiwan Stance Reiterated
The spokesperson reaffirmed the one-China principle, noting 183 countries recognize Beijing as China's sole legitimate government. \"No external forces will sway our territorial integrity,\" they stated, referencing Taiwan. U.S. efforts to block China-LAC exchanges were called \"doomed to fail.\"
Reference(s):
China slams Marco Rubio's finger-pointing at China and Latin America
cgtn.com
