The People’s Republic of China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs slammed the United States for sabotaging its global infrastructure program on Friday.
Beijing “firmly opposes” the US’s use of force and coercion to denigrate and undermine Belt and Road cooperation, according to Lin Jian in a statement. “The US side’s attacks … once again expose its hegemonic nature”.
Referring to a visit this week to the region by Marco Rubio, Lin said the US Secretary of State’s comments “unjustly accuse China, deliberately sow discord between China and relevant Latin American countries, interfere in China’s internal affairs, and undermine China’s legitimate rights and interests”.
More than 20 Latin American nations have participated in the BRI since China started it in 2013, according to Jian.
Panama in 2017 became the first in the region to officially join the massive infrastructure plan, which , is a central pillar of President Xi Jinping’s bid to expand his country’s global influence.
However, President of Panama Jose Raul Mulino claimed on Thursday that his nation had sent a formal notice of its abandonment of the project.
Marco Rubio, the US secretary of state, who also visited the Panama Canal, made the announcement after that visit.
Despite denials from both countries, Panama and President Donald Trump have repeatedly accused him of ceding control of the strategic waterway to China.
Mulino refuted allegations that the US had pressured Panama to abandon the BRI.
Rubio vowed to act against Panama unless it made immediate changes to lessen the influence of China on the canal, calling the announcement a “great step forward” for bilateral relations.
Beijing reaffirmed its support for Panama’s “sovereigntance over the canal” on Friday.
Source: Aljazeera
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