US OFFICIAL WARNS ABOUT CHINA’S PORT PLANS

A SENIOR United States military official has warned about deepwater harbours in the Caribbean being used by China for spying and other sinister activities.

The Rowley administration is constructing a $1 billion deepwater harbour at Toco and is privatising the ports of Port of Spain and Point Lisas.

There is speculation that the facilities would fall into the hands of COSCO Shipping, China’s mega-maritime company.

China has built and is involved in operating a number of ports in strategic areas around the world, and is reportedly using them for surveillance, intelligence-gathering and reconnaissance.

There are reports that some of the ports are being exploited for direct military purposes.

The ports are being constructed as part of China’s well-funded Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).

There are 17 deepwater ports in the Caribbean and Latin America that were established under the BRI.

China aided Antigua-Barbuda in renovating and expanding the St. John’s Port, turning it into a massive 12,000 square metre harbour that could accommodate two large ships at the same time.

Guyana is moving to construct a port on its north-eastern coast.

Leland Lazarus, a senior US security official and former special assistant to the commander of the Special Command, said that port operators could gather information about American naval ships at these facilities.

The ports are being built along “important sea lines of communication,” such as the Panama Canal, Lazarus said.

In addition, to the facilities being utilised for military objectives, there is also a risk of them being taken over by China because of the host country’s inability to honour its debt to the Asian country.

Sri Lanka’s Hambantota International Port, and Israel’s Haifa Port, one of the largest in the Mediterranean, are graphic examples.

COSCO has also taken over Greece’s Port of Piraeus, which is said to be located at the crossroads of Europe, Asia, and Africa.

Lazarus also said that China is utilising some of the facilities to set up space stations.

There are 11 such projects in South America, he said.

He called on regional governments to learn from the international lessons and avoid pitfalls “when dealing with the Chinese Government and various Chinese entities.’

He said the business dealings of Chinese financial institutions are “opaque and unequal” and he urged leaders to “demand more transparency.”

Lazarus also advocated that “instances of corruption” and environmental damage be monitored.

He recommended that there be regular discussions among stakeholders.

He called for a close examination of “Chinese engagement trends.”

 Globally, China is said to have a foothold in about 100 ports in 63 countries.

COSCO directly operates 357 terminals in 36 facilities.

China Merchants Group, another major maritime developer, is involved in 68 ports in 27 countries.

The Rowley Government has said that divestment of the Port of Spain and Point Lisas facilities would take place this year.