WHY IS CHINESE BALLOON OVER THE CARIBBEAN?

THE shooting down of two Chinese balloons over the airspace of the United States is raising questions about the purpose of an airship floated over Latin America and the Caribbean.

The Chinese authorities have confirmed that a balloon entered the airspace of Latin America and the Caribbean, and said it had been shifted by weather and limited steering ability.

The airship “deviated from its planned course,” a Chinese Foreign Ministry official said.

There have been no revelations about the exact location of that balloon, and, therefore, it is not known whether it veered over Trinidad and Tobago.

The Chinese authorities have geo-political interest in this part of the world, for trade, investment and military purposes.

Trinidad and Tobago’s location close to energy-rich Venezuela and as a gateway to major trading partner Brazil and other Latin countries has prompted close ties with the Government of Xi Jinping.

The administration of Dr. Keith Rowley made T&T the first Caricom country to sign the controversial Belt and Road Initiative, through which the Chinese carry out infrastructure works in countries with weaker economies.

Critics have called the measure the Chinese debt trap.

T&T already owes the Chinese around US $1 billion.

The Rowley Government is expected to get into other commercial deals, including the likely lease of the ports of Port of Spain and Point Lisas.

In recent times, China has become financially involved in the $3 billion La Brea Dry Docking Facility and $1 billion Phoenix Park project.

Sri Lanka, which owes China around US $7.4 billion, is among countries facing stringent financial measures from the donor country.

The sum owed to China is one-fifth of the debt of that crisis-ridden country.

China had bailed out Sri Lanka through its Import-Export Bank and Development Bank.

Earlier, China took over the Hambantota Port in Djibouti after that African country was unable to repay a US $1.3 billion loan.

Caricom countries have been cautioned by experts about accessing Chinese loans and investments.

Apart from T&T, that Asian giant has a major economic footprint in other regional countries, especially Jamaica and Antigua.

China has utilised its special purposes company, with modern technology and abundant skilled labour, to undertake such projects as Jamaica’s massive North-South Highway.

The highway, built at a cost of US $760 million, took three years to be completed and employed 1,000 Chinese workers and a similar number of Jamaicans.

Critics say the venture is a classic example of the Chinese debt trap, but Jamaica’s Prime Minister Andrew Holness said his country could not have afforded to construct such a highway in many years.

United States President Joe Biden said the Chinese balloons were spying on intelligence holdings and other critical data.

The international media have reported that there are Chinese balloons hovering over other countries.

There are burning questions about why such a device would float over this region, and whether the Chinese authorities have a specific interest in Trinidad and Tobago and neighbouring countries.

The Chinese authorities have denied any sinister motives, but it is evidently clear that T&T is of great interest to the Asian powerhouse.