Tillerson: Latin American Countries Should Not Rely on Chinese Investments

Secretary of State Rex Tillerson attends the US Qatar Strategic Dialogue ‎at the State Department, Tuesday, Jan. 30, 2018, in Washington.

Secretary of State Rex Tillerson is warning Latin American countries against Chinese investments, comparing it to European colonialism.
He said China only seeks to enrich itself, and governments in the region should protect themselves against predatory actors.
The Secretary of State warned Latin American countries that Chinese investments often look good, but ultimately come at a heavy price.
“We do not seek short-term deals with lopsided returns, we seek partners with shared values and visions to create a safe, secure and prosperous hemisphere,” said Tillerson. “The U.S. approach is based on mutually beneficial goals to help both sides grow, develop and become more prosperous and do so by respecting international law.”
Tillerson also criticized Russia for selling weapons to authoritarian governments in Latin America.
He said Russia is undermining Democratic governments through arms sales, which is something Latin America must guard against in order to restore shared values in the region.