Xi Jinping will have a busy time in South America starting this week. He will begin with the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) forum in Peru, followed by the G20 Leaders’ Summit in Rio de Janeiro, and then finish with a state visit to the Brazilian capital of Brasilia.
Peru and Brazil are but the most significant economic inroads China has made in the region, not to mention a host of other countries across South America. All that has greatly alarmed Washington.
Sadly, there are no more believable propaganda claims the US could use against the development of such economic ties. The neo-imperialism of the age-old Monroe Doctrine has become too obvious for the world to see, though many in Washington, and quite a few incoming ideologues in the new Trump administration, still think the region is America’s playground.
Peru, the world’s No 2 copper exporter, first rolled out the red carpet for Xi on Thursday at the inauguration of a new megaport 60km north of Lima in Chancay, which is designed to handle the world’s largest container ships. It is built by the Chinese state-owned Cosco Shipping and when fully operational, will shorten sea routes to Asia both for Peruvian and Brazilian goods by 10 to 20 days.
That will make it more economical than the port of Manzanillo in Mexico and the Long Beach port in California.
No wonder Washington has been warning Peru against threats to regional security with the outgoing chief of US Southern Command General Laura Richardson claiming the new port “could be used as a dual-use facility” for the Chinese navy!
It’s not known if the general is retiring to become a comedian.
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Publish date : 2024-11-15 00:25:00
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