The United States should stop politicizing economic, trade and sci-tech issues and stop interfering in other countries' internal affairs, Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun said at a press briefing in Beijing on Monday.
The U.S. government plans to install, in partnership with the Panama's Ministry of Public Security, seven new communications towers in Panama with "secure American technology", according to information released by the U.S. Embassy in Panama on its official website on June 11.
In response, Panamanian President Jose Raul Mulino pointed out that it is a unilateral statement from the U.S. embassy, and asked the embassy to refrain from making public pronouncements regarding decisions that are only made by the Panamanian government.
"The U.S. has long engaged in mass surveillance and cyberattacks on Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC), which create malign influence throughout the Western Hemisphere and make countries in Americas insecure. China supports Panama and other LAC countries in upholding independence and opposing hegemonism, bullying and external interference. China’s friendly cooperation with LAC countries always follows the principles of mutual respect, equality, mutual benefit, openness, inclusiveness and win-win. We never seek sphere of influence or engage in geopolitical competition, still less coerce other countries into picking sides," Guo commented on the U.S.unilateral announcement.
"The LAC region is no one’s backyard. The U.S. needs to stop acting like a bully. It needs to stop politicizing trade and tech issues, stop interfering in other countries’ internal affairs, undermining their sovereignty and independence and coercing them into picking sides and restricting cooperation with China. The U.S. should put its energy into making the region more peaceful, stable and prosperous," said the spokesman.
US should stop politicizing economic, trade, sci-tech issues: FM spokesman
US should stop politicizing economic, trade, sci-tech issues: FM spokesman
