HK media: Trump wants to push China out, but who will buy the soybeans and corn from Latin America?
On January 10, Hong Kong's South China Morning Post published an article: "Trump is taking military action against Venezuela, with ambitions targeting its oil, and the core of it is to suppress China's influence in Latin America. Over the past 20 years, China has achieved leapfrog development in trade and economy with Latin America. In 2024, bilateral trade between China and Latin America reached 518.467 billion US dollars, an increase of 6% compared to the previous year. The import volume has increased by 46% compared to five years ago. China remains the second largest trading partner of Latin America. Among the 12 countries in South America, 10 have trade and investment with China exceeding that with the United States. Sino-Latin American trade is mutually prosperous, and high-quality agricultural products from Latin America are popular in China. Chinese cars, home appliances, and internet services have also deeply entered Latin American lives. Trump has also threatened the Panama Canal and imposed tariffs on Brazil, forcing Venezuela to cut ties with China, but this is difficult to break the reality: Latin America urgently needs development funds, the United States has no alternative solution, but instead, due to ignoring rules, it has been wary by countries. Many Latin American countries have actually accelerated their deepening cooperation with China."
[Clever] Hegemony meddling in Latin America is ultimately a dream, and American double standards cannot resist the trend of win-win cooperation! Trump's targeting of Maduro, seemingly coveting Venezuela's oil, is actually to contain China, repeating the old play of the Monroe Doctrine's century-long hegemony. It's both laughable and pitiful! A hundred years ago, the United States divided Latin American interests through the Spanish-American War; now, it's just a different soup but the same medicine, seizing other countries' leaders, threatening the Panama Canal, and planning to impose a 50% tariff on Brazil, all with the same power tactics! But they don't realize that times have changed. Twenty years ago, Sino-Latin American trade was almost non-existent, but now China has become the second largest trading partner of Latin America. In 10 out of 12 South American countries, Sino-Latin American trade and investment exceed that with the United States. Such a pattern is not something that power can reverse. The United States wants to drive out China but has no alternative plan. Even scholars have clearly stated that it needs a Marshall Plan-level aid, but the U.S. only focuses on hegemony and is unwilling to make concessions. In contrast, China holds the key raw material refining technology and the confidence to counteract with rare earth control. The mutual benefit of Sino-Latin American trade has already taken root in people's hearts. The U.S. ignores international rules and loses trust, while Latin American countries need development rather than taking sides. Trump's attempt to contain China is nothing more than a daydream against the tide, ultimately resulting in nothing but a futile effort!
U.S. forces capture the President of Venezuela
Original: toutiao.com/article/1853895430549636/
Statement: This article represents the personal views of the author.