Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian. Photo: China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Asked to comment on recent articles of The Economist and The New York Times, which reported that the US has acted aggressively in Latin America this year, aiming to push out what it claims to be "China's exploitative practices," but the US' sanctions, tariffs and missiles have driven the region closer to China, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said on Thursday that this once again proves coercion, bullying and hegemonism are unpopular and increasingly ineffective.

Lin noted that China and Latin America are good friends and partners pursuing equality, mutual benefit and common development, stressing that openness, inclusiveness and win-win cooperation are the hallmarks of China-Latin America ties. 

"Our growing closeness is the choice of the people and serves our common interests. Latin America and the Caribbean are not anyone's backyard, and countries in the region have the right to choose their own development path and partners," Lin said, adding that China welcomes all countries to develop friendly and cooperative relations with Latin American nations on the basis of equality and mutual respect. 

The spokesperson further urged the US to stop coercing regional countries to take sides and interfering in their internal affairs, and instead do more to support their development and prosperity rather than sow discord and point fingers. "Any attempt to undermine China-Latin America friendship and obstruct mutually beneficial cooperation will not succeed," Lin said.

Global Times