TOP US LAWMAKER: BEWARE OF CHINA IN THE REGION

A TOP Republican congressman in the United States has warned that China is seeking to grow its communist influence in this region.

Among the countries that China is said to be exploiting is Venezuela, close to Trinidad and Tobago.

August Pfluger, a member from Texas who sits on the House Homeland Security Committee, spoke after he led a congressional delegation to various countries, including Brazil, Colombia, and Panama.

Pfluger said the Chinese communist party is present “in trade relationships, in communications, they are present with a desire to build ports and use their own tactics.”

There were earlier reports of the Chinese interest in leasing the ports of Port of Spain and Point Lisas and constructing the Toco deepwater harbour.

Under the Belt and Road Initiative, the Chinese authorities redeveloped the port in Antigua, at a cost of US $100 million.

The congressman said the United States has “to be working in this area because it’s not just about the issues we see on the border.”

He stated: “The homeland security of the United States depends on us engaging and, quite frankly, I think we have ignored this region.”

Pfluger said he told the various countries they have to push back, and “to be clear-eyed” about the objectives of the Chinese community party.

He stated that he asked the countries to resist China, “especially in the areas of port and telecommunications, because they desire to undermine the western world and freedom.”

He said the crisis of migrants and drugs from Latin America and into the US is related to Chinese influence in the region.

Another American lawmaker, Senator Bill Hagerty warned about the threat of Chinese influence where there was a “vacuum” left by the lack of US leadership.