The “replacement of Huawei telecommunication towers in Panama” has recently attracted much attention from Western media. However, the declaration did not come from Panamanian authorities, but from the US Embassy in Panama. On Wednesday, the embassy issued a statement saying the US will spend $8 million to replace Huawei telecommunication towers in Panama with what it called “trusted US technology,” claiming the move is meant to “counter malign Chinese influence in our hemisphere.” This carefully packaged “security gift” confidently declares that it will help Panama “gain the ability to control and manage their own telecommunications systems independently,” thereby enhancing “shared security.” What appears to be a “generous” aid package is, in fact, another example of US technological bullying of a sovereign nation under the disguise of so-called “national security.”
Washington has vowed to cut government spending and cancel many aid programs for the economic development of Global South countries. However, it generously announced a $8 million plan this time. But history tells us that whenever the US actively and enthusiastically offers “help” – even footing the bill for so-called “development” – it’s rarely a good sign. This $8 million “security myth” created by Washington is essentially a triple-layered trap: economic coercion, technological regression and long-term developmental strangulation.
Data shows that 5G-driven digital transformation is projected to boost productivity and economic growth in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) region, contributing an estimated $3.3 trillion in value and $9 trillion in productivity improvement by 2035. The US-style “technological castration” would directly stall this progress. Seen in this light, the $8 million “gift” is an unbearable burden for Panama.
Even more ironically, the US has been struggling with skyrocketing costs in its effort to dismantle Huawei equipment at home. Clearly, what Washington means by “trusted US technology” is not technology that is “reliable” in a technological or empirical sense, but rather equipment under US control and plans led by the US – that is what it deems “trustworthy.” Now, the US is imposing the same playbook on Panama, forcing the country to sacrifice development efficiency in exchange for a political stance. The statement from the US Embassy in Panama, full of narcissism, is more akin to gaslighting. In fact, it is claiming that only the US gets to define whether Panama is “safe” and what constitutes “security.” Once upon a time, relevant officials of the Panamanian government said that Panama was always committed to attracting quality foreign investment and was willing to facilitate Huawei’s business expansion in the country. Regrettably, under the bullying of the US, Panama has gone back on its word.
This “generous gift” from Washington is a microcosm of the disruption to global technological cooperation. The international community, including Latin America, is becoming increasingly alert to such actions. The real source of Washington’s insecurity isn’t a few Huawei 5G telecommunication towers; it’s the crumbling of its confrontational narrative that makes everything “ideology-related.” In March, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio visited Jamaica and smeared Cuban doctors, only to be rebuffed by the Jamaican prime minister, who made it clear Rubio had no right to speak on behalf of Jamaica or undermine the Cuban doctors’ work – leaving Rubio visibly embarrassed. If the US fails to reflect and change course, such humiliations will only become more frequent.
As the US pushes for a “small yard, high fence” approach to hinder global digital cooperation, China’s 5G technology is setting sail with openness and inclusivity. From Southeast Asia to Africa, from Latin America to the Middle East, Chinese companies are not only delivering cost-effective solutions but also sharing “Chinese standards” and “Chinese efficiency” with the world. This is not some “geopolitical tool,” but a genuine effort to make advanced technology accessible, allowing Global South countries to afford, access and benefit from it.
When it comes to what cooperation with China means, the facts speak the loudest. The trade volume between China and LAC countries surged from $14.84 billion in 2001 to $518.47 billion in 2024, an increase of about 34 times. Behind this growth lies LAC countries’ sincere embrace of ties with China. With a development-centered vision, China’s five programs of Solidarity, Development, Civilization, Peace and People-to-People Connectivity offer practical solutions to challenges like the “resource curse” and uneven development in the region. As Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva once said, unlike other major countries, China has consistently offered sincere support and assistance to Latin American countries, including Brazil.
China’s investment and cooperation in LAC countries do not target any third party, nor do they seek confrontation with or replacement of any country. As a steadfast member of the Global South, through the Belt and Road Initiative and cooperation mechanisms such as the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation and the China-CELAC Forum, China is helping Global South countries modernize with practical projects in infrastructure, 5G and clean energy. China’s development story sends a clear message to the world: Only by aligning progress with the well-being of humanity can we earn the broadest support. This is not empty rhetoric, but a truth proven by power stations and railways across Asia, Africa and Latin America. GT
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