Beijing slams Pompeo's remarks on China-LatAm ties as 'nonsensical'
Updated 21:52, 16-Apr-2019
By Abhishek G Bhaya
["north america","china","other","South America"]
01:17
China on Monday rejected U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo's remarks that Beijing is partly to be blamed for the volatile political situation in Venezuela, saying Washington's attempt to slander Beijing on its relations with Latin America is "irresponsible" and "nonsensical."
"We have taken note of the groundless accusations Secretary Pompeo leveled against China on the Venezuela issue. I would like to point out that China's position on the Venezuela issue is clear and consistent. We are committed to upholding the purposes and principles of the UN Charter as well as peace and stability in the region," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lu Kang told reporters in Beijing.
"US Secretary of State Pompeo's attempts to slander China and sow discord between China and Latin American countries are irresponsible and nonsensical. We are strongly opposed to it," he added.
Last Friday in Chile, as part of his four-nation Latin America tour that ended Sunday, Pompeo had accused China of "bankrolling" Maduro's regime which has "helped precipitate and prolong the crisis in that country." Pompeo reiterated U.S. calls for Maduro to step down.
While the U.S. and its allies have recognized Venezuela's opposition leader Juan Guaido as the legitimate leader of that country, China, Russia and Turkey have continued to maintain relations with the government of President Maduro.
Refuting the U.S. Secretary of State's "malicious" accusation, a furious Chinese Ambassador to Chile Xu Bu on Sunday said: “Pompeo has lost his mind and gone too far.”
Chinese Ambassador to Chile Xu Bu. /Xinhua Photo

Chinese Ambassador to Chile Xu Bu. /Xinhua Photo

Lu, meanwhile, accused Washington of threatening and even subverting its Latin American neighbors to toe its line.
"The U.S. has long been treating Latin America as its backyard, where it would resort to willful use of pressure, threat or even subversion. People can tell right from wrong. I am sure Latin American countries are fully capable of telling a true friend from a false one who is ignoring rules and spreading chaos," he said.
"For quite some time, certain US politicians have been touring the globe with the same script in their pockets to smear China, starting fires and fanning the flames and sowing discords. Such behaviors are really beneath their dignity. A lie will remain a lie, even if repeated a thousand times," he added.
"Mr. Pompeo might as well take a break," Lu advised.
The Chinese official also reiterated Beijing's commitment to the principle of mutual respect, equality, mutual benefit and win-win results in its cooperation with Latin America.
"With shared development as the aim, such cooperation has given a strong boost to the economic development and improvement of people's well-being in the region," Lu said, citing the example of Chile.
"Trade between China and Chile reached 42.8 billion U.S. dollars last year, of which 26.9 billion was export to China, a 26.9 percent increase year-on-year. In 2018, Chinese investment in Chile exceeded 6 billion U.S. dollars, playing a significant role in the economic and social development of the country. Such facts serve to show that it is opportunity that China brings to Latin America," he reasoned.
(Cover: U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo (L) and Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Lu Kang. /Photos via Reuters/China's MOFA)
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