We were on a cruise through the Caribbean last week and I was struck by the number of Chinese financed projects on these islands.
Our country had better power up some diplomacy and some dollars unless we want to see China establish a permanent presence in our hemisphere.
Unless we act, it's only a matter of time before China trades some impoverished and tourist dependent island nation debt forgiveness in return for a naval base.
Don't think so?
The Chinese are playing the long game and we can ill afford to allow them to gain a foothold in our backyard.
Let's revisit the largely rhetorical Caribbean Basin Initiative and make some substantive contributions to these many small islands.
To allow China to make inroads unchallenged is foolish at best.
Without some efforts by our government, there will be at least one Chinese base within the next decade.
A fearless prediction on my part, but one predicated upon what China has done elsewhere, as in Africa.
Our country had better power up some diplomacy and some dollars unless we want to see China establish a permanent presence in our hemisphere.
Unless we act, it's only a matter of time before China trades some impoverished and tourist dependent island nation debt forgiveness in return for a naval base.
Don't think so?
The Chinese are playing the long game and we can ill afford to allow them to gain a foothold in our backyard.
Let's revisit the largely rhetorical Caribbean Basin Initiative and make some substantive contributions to these many small islands.
To allow China to make inroads unchallenged is foolish at best.
Without some efforts by our government, there will be at least one Chinese base within the next decade.
A fearless prediction on my part, but one predicated upon what China has done elsewhere, as in Africa.