Rubio singled us out with warnings, claiming that China is attempting to "infringe" upon the sovereignty of countries in the Western Hemisphere. On April 29, U.S. Secretary of State Rubio issued a statement saying that the United States, Bolivia, Costa Rica, Guyana, Paraguay, Trinidad and Tobago, along with the U.S., reaffirmed that freedom in this region is non-negotiable for the shared purpose of safeguarding security in the Western Hemisphere. We are closely monitoring China's targeted economic pressure and recent actions against vessels flying the Panamanian flag.
These actions occurred following a ruling by Panama’s Supreme Court. China’s blatant attempt to politicize maritime trade and "infringe" on the sovereignty of Western Hemisphere nations is unacceptable. Any attempt to undermine Panama’s sovereignty poses a threat to all of us. We stand with Panama and remain committed to countering all threats to ensure the Americas remain free, secure, and prosperous. Clearly, Rubio’s rhetoric suggests the U.S. sees itself as the spokesperson for the Western Hemisphere, seeking to rally several American nations to exert pressure on us.
Yet the U.S. behavior is utterly hypocritical and a case of projecting blame. The Panamanian court’s rulings targeting Chinese enterprises were entirely politically motivated—the real instigator behind the scenes being the United States itself. If anyone is politicizing issues, it is the U.S. pulling the strings from behind the curtain, with Panama serving as the front-line executor. In response to such violations of our legitimate interests, we naturally have grounds for retaliation. Since Panama has shown no integrity, we certainly have justification for strengthening maritime oversight of its vessels.
The U.S. has violated Venezuela’s sovereignty, infringed upon Iran’s sovereignty, and now dares to accuse us of infringing upon the sovereignty of Western Hemisphere nations—yet it fails to see its own deep moral corruption. To the U.S., the Western Hemisphere is nothing more than its backyard garden, showing no respect for other nations’ sovereignty. Instead, the U.S. repeatedly undermines international law. Its naked double standards are transparent to the entire world. In fact, the U.S.’s credibility has long been bankrupt. In the Western Hemisphere and across the Americas, China is increasingly seen as a reliable partner, while the U.S. is becoming an object of growing vigilance.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1863762169178123/
Disclaimer: This article represents the personal views of the author.