China Rejects Comments Made By US Secretary of State During Talks With Caribbean Leaders

NASSAU, Bahamas – China has dismissed comments made by the United States Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, to leaders of the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) and The Bahamas saying they  “revealed ideological bias and disrespect and ignorance of the basic norms in international relations”.

Rubio met with the Caribbean leaders on Tuesday and according to the US State Department spokesperson, Tammy Bruce, “Rubio urged our partners to make responsible, transparent decisions when selecting vendors and contractors for critical infrastructure projects, ensuring they are not vulnerable to privacy and security risks and exploitation by malign actors like the Chinese Communist Party”.

Bahamas Prime Minister Phillip Davis, speaking on his return here confirmed that the meeting discussed the integrity of critical infrastructure projects in the Caribbean.

“Secretary Rubio encouraged all leaders present to avoid choosing infrastructure partners who could pose security or data privacy risks, a point we take seriously,”  Davis said.

Dominica’s Prime Minister, Roosevelt Skerrit, in an interview with his Government Information Service (GIS) in Roseau, said regarding the presence of China in the region and more particularly, its diplomatic relations with Roseau, said “the United States of America has a relationship with China.

“I think some of the things that people speak about our relationship with China are sometimes misplaced. China has been… and continues to be a major ally in our economic and social development.

“We have always maintained our relationship with China in a very transparent way. Our relationship with China is no different to that of our relationship with any country in the world, whether it’s a European country or an African country or a Caribbean country,”  Skerrit added.

In a statement, the Chinese embassy here said that “China firmly opposes” the comments by Rubio, adding that “these comments which revealed ideological bias and disrespect and ignorance of the basic norms in international relations.

“China’s cooperation with Caribbean countries, including The Bahamas, has always adhered to the principles of equality, mutual benefit, and win-win outcomes, delivering tangible benefits to the peoples of both sides.

“Chinese-invested projects, whether ports or other facilities, aim to address local development needs, foster economic growth, and create employment opportunities,” Beijing said.

There are significant Chinese interests here with Baha Mar in Cable Beach owned by Hong Kong-based conglomerate Chow Tai Fook Enterprises, and Margaritaville owned by China Construction America. In Grand Bahama, the Hong Kong-based company CK Hutchison Holdings Ltd. owns a majority of the Freeport Container Port, though it was announced in March a deal was reached for sale of the port assets to Blackrock Inc.

The Bahamas has also gotten various concessional loans from the Chinese over the years for infrastructure projects and the government is currently finalizing an agreement with Export-Import Bank of China to fund a US$290 million hospital on New Providence.

“Both China and The Bahamas are independent and sovereign states, fully capable and wise enough to decide whom to befriend and whom to do business with,” the Chinese Embassy said, adding “China supports The Bahamas to diversify its partnerships, which serve its national interests. China does not pursue exclusive blocs, geopolitical rivalry, or camp confrontation, nor does it force any country to take sides.

“We welcome all nations to sincerely increase their investment in The Bahamas, and to pursue cooperation with The Bahamas based on equality and mutual benefit

“The Caribbean countries are not spheres of influence of any nation. The outdated Cold War mentality and zero-sum game thinking should be abandoned and an open and inclusive approach should be adopted toward China’s cooperation with Latin America, the Caribbean, and The Bahamas. The world is vast enough to accommodate the common development and shared progress of all nations,”  the Chinese Embassy added.