Dominicans criticize U.S. military actions for raising regional tensions

The latest U.S. military deployment in the Caribbean, including the Dominican Republic, is extensive in scale and has heightened regional sensitivities, according to Dominican experts and media outlets.

The Dominican government recently made the decision to temporarily grant the U.S. access to an air force base and the country’s main international airport under the guise of "combating drug trafficking." This has led to the arrival of several U.S. military aircraft in the Dominican Republic, drawing widespread attention.

In recent days, large U.S. military planes have landed at Dominican airports, including Las Américas International Airport in the capital Santo Domingo. Surrounding areas have seen fuel tanker trucks, buses, vans, light vehicles, communications equipment, and other military supplies, all under tight security measures.

One of the country's leading newspapers, Diario Libre, reported that this move resembles a military deployment that goes far beyond mere anti-drug enforcement. The U.S. appears to be seeking to increase its military presence in the Caribbean while exerting pressure on Venezuela.

Political figures in the country echoed similar sentiments.

"[The Dominican government] carried out a severe crackdown on drug-related crimes, and this was done without U.S. military intervention. Therefore, the U.S.' so-called 'anti-drug' efforts are merely a pretext. The real objective is to implement its national security strategy, control the Caribbean, and threaten Venezuela," said Manuel Salazar, General Secretary of the Communist Party of Labor in the Dominican Republic.

"The U.S. is seeking to expand its influence in the Caribbean, and the alleged 'combating drug trafficking' is simply an excuse," said José Horacio Rodríguez, President of Democratic Choice, another political party in the Dominican Republic.

Dominican society, shaped by the historical memory of the 1965 U.S. military intervention, has reacted with unease to the current presence of U.S. troops.

In April 1965, the U.S. sent more than 20,000 troops to the Dominican Republic during a civil war that followed the overthrow of democratically elected President Juan Bosch. In 1966, Bosch was decisively defeated by Dr. Joaquín Balaguer, a candidate favored by U.S. interests, who received 57 percent of the vote.

"The deployment of U.S. marines had a combat mission; they were opposing democratic forces in the Dominican Republic and supporting a dictatorial regime," explained Eduardo Klinger, a member of the Academy of Sciences of Dominican Republic.

He noted that his research has uncovered instances where the U.S. openly admitted to significant interference in Dominican elections and manipulation of political outcomes.

"In 1996, Arthur M. Schlesinger Jr., who served as an advisor to presidents Kennedy and Johnson, visited the Dominican Republic. During a press conference, he candidly confessed to participating in the electoral process to ensure Dr. Balaguer’s election," the expert said.

Klinger also stressed that, for decades, U.S. influence has never left the Caribbean; rather, it has simply adopted different excuses over time.

Dominicans criticize U.S. military actions for raising regional tensions

China's central government will continue to actively support cross-Strait industrial cooperation in the next 5 years, Peng Qing'en, spokesman of the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office, said at a press conference in Beijing on Wednesday. He also said the central government will assist businesses from China's Taiwan region in seizing opportunities during the 15th Five-Year Plan period (2026-2030).

Peng made the remarks when talking about the annual conference of the Cross-Strait CEO Summit held last week in Nanjing, east China's Jiangsu Province, during which businesses from both sides of the Taiwan Strait discusses opportunities during the 15th Five-Year Plan period and the integrated development of cross-Strait industrial and supply chains, and agreed that the implementation of the new five-year plan will open up a broader space for cross-Strait economic cooperation.

"This annual conference of the summit was a grand gathering for cross-Strait business exchanges and cooperation as the mainland is about to enter the first year of the 15th Five-Year Plan period. It's of great significance for businesspeople and companies from Taiwan to seize the opportunities brought about by the formulation and implementation of the 15th Five-Year Plan, accelerate their integration into the new development paradigm, participate in high-quality development, and deepen the integrated development of cross-Strait industrial and supply chains," Peng said.

"A hot issue in discussions among entrepreneurs across the Strait during the annual conference was how to seize the opportunities presented by the 15th Five-Year Plan and join hands to develop. They shared their outlook for development opportunities contained in the 15th Five-Year Plan from different perspectives in different fields, and discussed in depth new paths for cross-Strait economic cooperation through the synergy of industrial, supply, innovation and value chains. Participants said they have deepened their understanding of the industry layout and development priorities through exchanges, and will accurately align needs and optimize industry models in future cooperation to create conditions for integration across these chains," said Peng.

"We will, as always, actively support cross-Strait industrial cooperation, continuously improve the systems and policies for promoting cross-Strait economic and cultural exchanges and cooperation, deepen cross-Strait integrated development, assist businesspeople and companies from Taiwan in seizing opportunities of the 15th Five-Year Plan and help them achieve better development on the mainland," he said.

Central government continues supporting cross-Strait industrial cooperation