Congressional testimony by Brian Fonseca: Examining China’s Role in the Western Hemisphere

“Dollar Diplomacy or Debt Trap? Examining China’s Role in the Western Hemisphere”
Testimony by Brian Fonseca
Director, Jack D. Gordon Institute for Public Policy
Florida International University
Before the House Foreign Affairs Committee | Subcommittee on Western Hemisphere,
Civilian Security, and Trade
May 9, 2019, 
docs.house.gov

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Excerpt:

Chairman Sires, Ranking Member Rooney, and distinguished members of the Subcommittee, it is my privilege to address you today on the challenges China poses to the national security of the United States and our partners in the Western Hemisphere.

Most experts agree, at least in part, that Chinese involvement in Latin America is largely a result of China’s rise as a global economic power. China needs access to natural resources and markets critical to its growth, while Latin America has sought to diversify its economic engagement beyond the United States. Although there is strategic and even aspirational intent to China’s rise, there remains elements of opportunism that guide its global—and hemispheric—engagement. Chinese activities across the hemisphere vary in size and scope, and although it is well known, it remains important to note that Latin America is not the only space that China is aggressively seeking to do business; India, Africa and the Middle East have all seen increased forms of Chinese economic, political and security engagements over the last decade. So, from the strategic security perspective we should view Chinese engagement in the Western Hemisphere as part of a broader global effort aimed at shaping a world consistent with its authoritarian model. ...

[T]he United States must compete better in the information domain. The United States should expose and exploit the contradictions in Beijing’s policy and the divisions that exist between China and the region, such as cultural differences, political systems, and business practices, including over-promising commitments and labor practices (using of Chinese labor). U.S. should help make the region aware of how China is undercutting the region’s long-term economic and political interests. Additionally, China is sensitive about its global image; and, it sees negative perceptions as antithetical to its long-term economic and political interests. U.S. information operations should further expose China’s authoritarian practices and long history of human rights violations. We currently lack the tools to propagate American values and ideas in a meaningful and consistent way absent executive-level guidance. Our public diplomacy [JB emphasis] should not be ashamed of using our history and culture to strengthen ties with the region, while remaining conscious of the complexity of our history with Latin America. ...