In the last 48 hours, two Chinese spy balloons have been found ambling in the Americas. The United States of America was alarmed yesterday when a Chinese balloon was seen hovering above US military intercontinental ballistic missile silos.
US Northern Command coordinated with NASA to determine the debris field if the balloon were to be shot down, even jets were also deployed to shoot it down.
Now, another Chinese spy balloon has been identified over Latin America. Now, this is happening just days after China decided to expand its relations with the Caribbeans. Oh Yes! definitely a coincidence?
According to news reports, China is eager to strengthen its diplomatic ties with Barbados in the areas of 5G technology, air travel, and the Global Development Initiative (GDI).
And we all know that what China can do with its 5G equipment, with allegations in the past for spying on and hacking the systems of other nations one cannot discount China that it will not do it in the Caribbean.
The ambassador of the People’s Republic of China to Barbados, Yan Xiusheng, recently paid Kerrie Symmonds, the minister of foreign affairs and foreign trade, a courtesy visit in the ministry’s ante-room on Culloden Road in St. Michael.
Ambassador Xiusheng expressed his appreciation for Barbados’ One China Policy, and Minister Symmonds assured him that the island nation would continue to uphold it.
While discussing the 5G developments, Minister Symmonds stressed that China wants to expand its tech and innovation in Caribbean nations. As per him, there are a number of areas where a useful partnership would be beneficial, in developing a national cloud, then equally having smart education, and smart health, and ultimately coming to the point where Barbados has a public Wi-Fi framework.
China’s expansion in Caribbean
Anyone who follows geopolitics with full devotion knows the fact that China is expanding its presence in the strategically important Caribbean, through infrastructure investment, COVID-19 aid, and security sector assistance.
China has vastly expanded its trade with Caribbean countries: Overall trade grew from $1 billion in 2002 to $8 billion in 2019, with three-fourths of that amount representing an increase in Chinese exports. China has also made significant investments in infrastructure and energy projects and real estate.
As a result, U.S. interests in the Caribbean “have been greatly jeopardized” as the US has fallen short of keeping the Caribbean nations in its influence. Under the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), Beijing is willing to also deepen its military ties with Caribbean nations in such areas as disaster relief, peacekeeping, etc. Caribbean countries such as Trinidad and Tobago, as well as Barbados, have been sending their military officers to China for training – which sometimes includes the Chinese language and culture.
By recognising Beijing and severing ties with Taiwan in May, the Dominican Republic also opened the door for Chinese-Dominican cooperation, which includes a Chinese plan to invest $10 billion in infrastructure.
The same is the scenario with Latin American nations too. These nations’ anti-US rhetoric has also played a crucial role in setting the motion in favor of the US.
Read More: China Reaps Caribbean Victory Over US
Canada and the Americas to entrap the USA
When we move just above the USA, to Canada, we see that China has also has a significant impact in the nation through investments.
The telecom industry in Canada is actually using Chinese machinery. Canada experienced a significant telecom outage in July 2022. At the time, several experts blamed China for the outage.
The Canadian government has frequently been accused of being too lenient towards China, and occasionally it has been termed as China’s puppet government. Barbados also wants to follow the same path despite the fact that Chinese equipment has been known for keeping a surveillance check on its users.
Read More: East Rising: The Expanding Relationship Between Vietnam and Trinidad and Tobago
This most recent Chinese spy balloon case is only a moderate indication that China is encircling the United States from both ends. China’s influence has increased to the point where it no longer hesitates to spy on the US without any guilt or even fear.
The Caribbean or Canada may show that they have no idea what is happening, but it remains a fact that they usually keep quiet about Chinese activities. This most recent incident must serve as a reminder to the USA that time is really running out for America in terms of countering China.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LBqi4zxc7Fk