China Rebuts Marco Rubio Over 'Communist Party-Backed Projects' in Peru
China's embassy in Lima pushed back on Tuesday against criticism from US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who alleged in a column for the Peruvian newspaper El Comercio that projects backed by the Chinese Communist Party sidestep Peru's legal frameworks and create risks for transparency and data security. The embassy defended a US$30 billion Chinese investment stock in Peru and criticized US visa restrictions, stating that China has never meddled in other nations' internal affairs nor required countries to choose sides. It added that the western hemisphere belongs to no one as a backyard. Rubio's op-ed appeared ahead of a visit, as Peruvian President Fujimori, a conservative who assumed office in July, balances security cooperation with Washington against trade ties with Beijing, which purchases 35 to 38 per cent of Peruvian exports. Fujimori has joined Trump's Shield of the Americas initiative.
Key facts
- China's embassy in Lima issued a statement on Tuesday rebutting Marco Rubio
- Rubio wrote in El Comercio that Chinese Communist Party-backed projects bypass Peru's legal frameworks and threaten transparency and data security
- The embassy defended a US$30 billion Chinese investment stock in Peru
- The embassy criticized US visa curbs
- The embassy said China never interfered in other countries' internal affairs and never demanded that other countries take sides
- The embassy stated 'The western hemisphere is nobody's backyard'
- Peruvian President Fujimori took office in July and has courted Washington on security while protecting trade with China
- China buys 35 to 38 per cent of Peruvian exports
- Fujimori joined Trump's Shield of the Americas
Entities
Artists
- Marco Rubio
- Fujimori
- Trump
Institutions
- Chinese Communist Party
- El Comercio
- Shield of the Americas
Locations
- Peru
- Lima
- China
- United States
- Washington
- Western Hemisphere