http://www.geostrategy-direct.com China's expanding military contacts in Latin America worries U.S. U.S. government is concerned about China's expanding military, economic and other efforts in the Western Hemisphere, a State Department official last week said. "We have noted, and are following closely, what appear to be expanding military-to-military contacts between China and countries in the region," said Charles S. Shapiro, principal deputy assistant secretary of state for Western Hemisphere affairs. The U.S. Southern Command, the military command responsible for Latin America, said defense officials from China have made 20 visits to Latin America and the Caribbean and nine Latin defense chiefs have visited China. "In addition, we are watching closely increased educational exchanges between China and several Latin American and Caribbean countries, and seek to ensure that they do not undermine the commitment of Latin American militaries to democracy and civilian control," Shapiro told a Senate subcommittee. "As China considers arms sales to the region, we will apply our general policy of seeking transparency and accountability in these sales and are concerned about the risk of diversion of weapons to illegal armed groups, which threaten the peace and security of the hemisphere." U.S. estimates of Chinese military assistance to the hemisphere are not reliable, he said. "However, we note that U.S. military assistance is preconditioned on adherence to basic principles of good governance and transparency, and we encourage China to adopt similar principles," Shapiro said. China has supplied military goods to Cuba in recent years. Complete archives at http://www.sitbot.net/ Please let us stay on topic and be civil. OM
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