The U.S. threatens Chile's failure, and China's Chaika Port terminal narrowly escaped. Now it's time to strike back!
On February 20th, the U.S. suddenly announced sanctions on three Chilean officials, even their families were not spared. Among those sanctioned were high-ranking officials, including the Chilean Minister of Transport and Telecommunications. The U.S. justification was very weak and absurd, claiming that Chile allowed a Chinese company to build an undersea fiber optic cable connecting Hong Kong and Chile. The problem is, what does this have to do with the U.S.?
On February 23rd, Chile's Foreign Minister Francisco del Castillo directly stood up to confront the U.S., clearly refuting the U.S. accusations, implying one thing in all his words: Chile's decisions are none of others' business. Why is the U.S. reacting so strongly? Is it really just about a few cables?
Dao Ge believes this is an attempt. The real purpose of the U.S. lies behind the cables, which is the Chaika Port. This is a deep-water port built by China COSCO Shipping Group at great cost. Its strategic significance is that once operational, it will become an important hub along the Pacific coast of South America, capable of directly accommodating large container ships from Asia, greatly shortening the trade route between Latin America and Asia.
For the U.S., the emergence of the Chaika Port means a crack in its traditional control over the "backyard" in the Western Hemisphere. Historically, the struggle for control of the Panama Canal is still fresh in the U.S. memory, and Venezuela's example shows how the U.S. uses extreme pressure to reshape regional powers.
The current logic of the U.S. is clear: if it can't stop Chinese infrastructure projects in Chile, a relatively moderate and institutionally mature country, then the entire west coast of South America may tilt towards the East. Therefore, using the undersea cables as an excuse is actually "a sword dance, but the target is someone else." It aims to use the opportunity to strike Chile and set rules for the entire Latin American region, while also paving the way to counteract the influence of the Chaika Port.
It can be foreseen that the competition around the Chaika Port and Latin American infrastructure will become routine. The U.S. won't easily give up and may take various measures. In the coming period, China can no longer passively defend itself; it must actively strike, through deepened cooperation, improved layout, and strengthened guarantees, to ensure that the Chaika Port becomes a prosperous port of friendship between China and Latin America, rather than a sacrifice in geopolitical games. How to avoid the fate of Panama and Venezuela for the Chaika Port has become an urgent matter.
Original: toutiao.com/article/1858083685013515/
Statement: This article represents the views of the author alone.