Select Committee Delegation Engages Central American Leaders On Countering Chinese Influence
Select Committee on China Chairman John Moolenaar (R-MI) recently led a bipartisan Congressional delegation to Central America to meet with heads of state and legislative leaders about China’s influence in the region. The delegation also visited the Panama Canal to learn more about its operations and vital role in the economy.
“We cannot allow China’s influence to grow in the Western Hemisphere, and we must ensure it does not gain control over critical infrastructure. The Panama Canal is an engineering marvel and a crucial part of the economy, and our military must always have the right to transit the locks whenever it needs to. Guatemala’s leadership has resisted China’s coercion and stood strongly with Taiwan, and it was outstanding to see the partnership between Taiwanese Ambassador Vivia Chang and the Guatemalan government. In El Salvador, China has used its influence to build the national library and the soccer stadium as part of its extortive Belt and Road Initiative that often leaves countries heavily indebted. However, the CCP’s values of oppression, and its persecution of people of faith will never win over the people of Central America who value the same inalienable rights we hold dear as Americans. I am thankful to leaders in all three countries for the time they shared with the delegation and look forward to continuing to work together,” said Moolenaar.
Moolenaar was joined on the trip by Select Committee members Greg Stanton (D-AZ), Dan Newhouse (R-WA), Carlos Gimenez (R-FL), and Zach Nunn (R-IA), as well as Senator Mike Lee (R-UT), and Congressmen Robert Aderholt (R-AL), Ed Case (D-HI), Ben Cline (R-VA) Lou Correa (D-CA), Tracey Mann (R-KS), Gary Palmer (R-AL), and Tom Suozzi (D-NY).
