Is China Pushing Predatory Lending and Debt-diplomacy?

Julie Chung

Amid the trade dispute between the United States and China, the world’s two largest national economies, is an enduring relationship with Belize and Taiwan.  Chung, in a brief question and answer session with the media this evening, spoke about China’s influence in the region.

Julie Chung, U.S. State Department

“This is something we value very greatly as partners and friends of Taiwan, ourselves.  There are many values that we share with Belize and Taiwan and that’s democracy, open free markets, transparency, good governance and anti-corruption.  These are basic pillars I think we share very closely and the values that we share.  Now we look at a country like China and we’ve seen some of that predatory actions in the region and to be honest, throughout the world, and we see predatory lending, debt-diplomacy where many countries are very eager to take some of the infrastructure funding that China’s one belt, one road offers.  My question is, why is it one belt one road that leads to China?  It should be many belts, many roads that lead to many opportunities for all.  This is not China’s game, it should be all of us engaged together.”