NASSAU, BAHAMAS- The Chinese Embassy has issued a sharp rebuttal to recent comments made by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who warned Caribbean leaders about engaging with China, suggesting that Beijing posed security and sovereignty risks to the region.
Rubio, during a high-level meeting in Washington, D.C. with leaders from the Eastern Caribbean and The Bahamas, urged them to make “responsible, transparent decisions when selecting vendors and contractors for critical infrastructure projects,” cautioning against what he described as “malign actors like the Chinese Communist Party.”
In a statement on Thursday, a spokesperson for the Chinese Embassy condemned Rubio’s comments as “an attempt to smear and undermine China’s relations with Caribbean countries.”
“China firmly opposes these comments, which reveal ideological bias, disrespect, and ignorance of basic norms in international relations,” the embassy spokesperson said.
Defending China’s presence and investments in the region, the embassy highlighted its cooperation with Caribbean nations, including The Bahamas, as based on mutual respect and benefit.
“China’s cooperation with Caribbean countries has always adhered to the principles of equality, mutual benefit, and win-win outcomes, delivering tangible benefits to the peoples of both sides,” the spokesperson said.
“Chinese-invested projects, whether ports or other facilities, aim to address local development needs, foster economic growth, and create employment opportunities.”
Responding to U.S. suggestions that China’s influence could compromise sovereignty or security, Beijing emphasized that regional countries are fully capable of making independent choices.
“Both China and The Bahamas are independent and sovereign states, fully capable and wise enough to decide whom to befriend and whom to do business with,” the statement continued.
“China supports The Bahamas in diversifying its partnerships, which serves its national interests. We do not pursue exclusive blocs, geopolitical rivalry, or camp confrontation, nor do we force any country to take sides.”
The embassy further criticized what it described as Cold War-era thinking in U.S. foreign policy rhetoric.
“The Caribbean countries are not the sphere of influence of any nation. The outdated Cold War mentality and zero-sum game thinking should be abandoned,” it said.
“An open and inclusive approach should be adopted toward China’s cooperation with Latin America, the Caribbean, and The Bahamas. The world is vast enough to accommodate the common development and shared progress of all nations.”
