The World Against China: US Senators Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Stop China’s Expansion into Latin America
The US Congress has renewed its efforts to stunt China’s global expansion with Democrats and Republicans in the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations joining hands to push for a new law that strengthens US-Latin America partnership, countering Beijing’s economic, security, and intelligence activities in the region.
The legislation—the Advancing Competitiveness, Transparency, and Security in the Americas Act—was introduced in the Senate on 14 August by Democrat Bob Menendez and Republican Marco Rubio alongside a number of other senators, including Ben Cardin, Tim Kaine, and Ted Cruz.
The new legislation aims to improve the US’s diplomatic and economic ties with Lain America with a view to strengthening economic competitiveness, safeguarding digital infrastructure, and addressing abuse of human rights through digital surveillance in the region. It is considered to be the most significant and groundbreaking bipartisan effort to contain China’s expansion into Latin America and the Caribbean ever.
The legislation covers four major areas, namely the US’s economic and diplomatic presence in the region, countering malign economic practice, securing physical and digital infrastructure, and supporting civil society. The law provides for an array of measures. Eligibility for US International Development Finance Corporation (DFC) initiatives, for one, will be extended to Caribbean countries. Futhermore, 35 percent of the DFC’s budget will be dedicated to Latin America and the Caribbean in the next 10 years. In addition, it will give access to a US$10-million fund for the purpose of promoting internet freedom and fostering civil society. The law will also require the Secretary of State to further educational, professional, and cultural exchanges so as to counter the Chinese government’s influence in the region.
#US #LatinAmerica #SouthAmerica #Caribbean #China #Congress #Senate #DFC #Diplomacy
Source: Apple Daily #Aug16
https://bit.ly/2YR9T8y
The US Congress has renewed its efforts to stunt China’s global expansion with Democrats and Republicans in the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations joining hands to push for a new law that strengthens US-Latin America partnership, countering Beijing’s economic, security, and intelligence activities in the region.
The legislation—the Advancing Competitiveness, Transparency, and Security in the Americas Act—was introduced in the Senate on 14 August by Democrat Bob Menendez and Republican Marco Rubio alongside a number of other senators, including Ben Cardin, Tim Kaine, and Ted Cruz.
The new legislation aims to improve the US’s diplomatic and economic ties with Lain America with a view to strengthening economic competitiveness, safeguarding digital infrastructure, and addressing abuse of human rights through digital surveillance in the region. It is considered to be the most significant and groundbreaking bipartisan effort to contain China’s expansion into Latin America and the Caribbean ever.
The legislation covers four major areas, namely the US’s economic and diplomatic presence in the region, countering malign economic practice, securing physical and digital infrastructure, and supporting civil society. The law provides for an array of measures. Eligibility for US International Development Finance Corporation (DFC) initiatives, for one, will be extended to Caribbean countries. Futhermore, 35 percent of the DFC’s budget will be dedicated to Latin America and the Caribbean in the next 10 years. In addition, it will give access to a US$10-million fund for the purpose of promoting internet freedom and fostering civil society. The law will also require the Secretary of State to further educational, professional, and cultural exchanges so as to counter the Chinese government’s influence in the region.
#US #LatinAmerica #SouthAmerica #Caribbean #China #Congress #Senate #DFC #Diplomacy
Source: Apple Daily #Aug16
https://bit.ly/2YR9T8y