[Source/Observer Network, Wang Kaiwen] According to a Reuters report, on April 14th local time, during Treasury Secretary Beasant's visit to Argentina, he smeared China's normal cooperation with Argentina, claiming that the Trump administration was committed to helping Latin American countries avoid so-called "greedy agreements" with China.

The Chinese Embassy in Argentina released a stern statement on April 14th, firmly opposing the US side's defamation and advising them to adjust their mindset. Instead of repeatedly smearing and attacking China and attempting to implement a "New Monroe Doctrine," they should do more substantial things for regional countries' development.

Beasant visited Buenos Aires, the capital of Argentina, on April 14th and met with President Milei of Argentina. He emphasized the Trump administration's full support for Argentina's economic reforms and praised Milei's efforts to reduce trade barriers between Argentina and the United States.

In an interview with Bloomberg, Beasant slandered that China signed "greedy agreements" under the guise of aid with Latin American countries. He claimed this was to "take away" the mining rights of Latin American countries and impose "huge debt" on these countries, leaving their descendants "impoverished" and "resource-poor." The US did not want such situations to happen again in Latin America.

On April 14th local time, US Treasury Secretary Beasant (fourth from left) met with Argentine President Milei. Beasant X platform account

Previously, the US side had repeatedly attacked the currency swap agreement between China and Argentina, attempting to pressure Argentina to terminate it. However, before Beasant's visit on April 10th, the Central Bank of Argentina released a statement announcing the renewal of a 35 billion RMB currency swap agreement with China.

It is worth noting that President Milei of Argentina is a supporter of Trump and had previously spoken out against China during the 2023 election period, calling China an "assassin" and vowing to sever ties with China. However, after taking office, Milei has softened his stance toward China.

Bloomberg reported on April 14th that Trump is currently conducting a diplomatic blitz in Latin America aimed at weakening China's growing influence, attempting to exclude China from the region, which the US has long considered its "backyard."

Before Beasant's visit to Argentina, Defense Secretary Hekesith of the US went to Panama last week. While stating that they did not want to go to war with China, they hyped up the "China threat theory," suggesting the possibility of "redeploying" military forces in Panama. On the 14th, Trump himself met with his close ally, President Buke of El Salvador, at the White House.

At the beginning of this month, Trump announced the imposition of so-called "reciprocal tariffs" on most countries and regions, with the tariff rate for Argentine products being 10%. During his visit to Argentina, Beasant did not reveal whether the country could achieve zero tariffs, but stated that he advised Argentine officials to present their "best state" during negotiations.

According to the WeChat official account of the Chinese Embassy in Argentina, US Treasury Secretary Beasant maliciously smeared China's normal cooperation with other countries during his visit to Argentina on April 14th. The Chinese Embassy in Argentina expressed strong dissatisfaction and firm opposition and issued the following solemn statement:

Firstly, the claim that China engages in "predatory agreements" and "debt traps" is false, while some people with ulterior motives are deliberately sowing discord between China and Argentina, as well as China and Africa. China provides assistance without any political conditions within its capacity to developing countries, including Latin America and Africa. These collaborations have effectively promoted the socio-economic development and improvement of people's livelihood in relevant countries, receiving warm welcome from local governments and the public. If the US cannot do this itself, it should at least stop obstructing and deliberately destroying other countries' efforts to help developing countries, and should not sacrifice the well-being of the general population of developing countries for the sake of serving its own hegemonic geopolitical interests. This lacks basic respect for developing countries and the global South and is an immoral act of hegemony, arrogance, and bullying.

Secondly, China has always conducted practical cooperation in various fields, including currency swaps, with Argentina on the basis of mutual respect, equality, and mutual benefit. For a long time, the currency swap cooperation between China and Argentina has played an important role in maintaining Argentina's economic and financial stability, receiving welcome and positive evaluation from the Argentine side. In fact, this has also played an important role in Argentina's recent acquisition of related financing from the International Monetary Fund. China's cooperation with Latin American countries, including Argentina, is part of South-South cooperation, always adhering to the principles of equality and mutual benefit, never seeking spheres of influence or targeting any third party. We advise the US to adjust its mindset. Instead of spending time repeatedly smearing and attacking China, giving instructions to regional countries about external cooperation, and attempting to implement a "New Monroe Doctrine," they should do more substantial things for regional countries' development.

Thirdly, the essence of the claim that "tariffs are used to prevent Chinese goods from flooding into markets of the US and its allies" is entirely unilateralism, protectionism, and economic bullying. Recently, the US has arbitrarily imposed tariffs, essentially depriving countries, especially those in the Global South, of their development rights. WTO data analysis shows that under conditions of unequal economic development and strength, the US tariff policy will further widen the gap between rich and poor among countries. Underdeveloped countries will suffer greater impacts. The US' reckless actions not only show no signs of repentance but also attempt to smear China's normal external cooperation, hiding the intention to suppress and contain the development of China's industries. This is blatant economic coercion and bullying. China will work with all countries to uphold the principle of shared consultation, construction, and benefits, adhere to true multilateralism, maintain the international system centered on the United Nations, and safeguard the multilateral trading system centered on the World Trade Organization.

In response to Beasant's remarks, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian emphasized on April 15th at a regular press conference that China has always conducted pragmatic cooperation in various fields with Latin American and Caribbean countries on the basis of mutual respect and equal benefit, effectively promoting the socio-economic development of regional countries, and receiving welcome from the Latin American side.

"The US has long bullied and plundered Latin America, making it a 'cut artery.' The US has no right to comment on or criticize Sino-Latin American cooperation," said Lin Jian.

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Original source: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7493448784546955811/

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