China slams US Cold War mentality, defends cooperation with Latin America

China has dismissed remarks by a US military official as reflecting a Cold War mentality, and urged Washington to stop sowing discord and take concrete actions to support the development of Latin America and the Caribbean.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun made the remarks on Monday after the Commander of the US Southern Command Alvin Holsey recently alleged that Beijing was "penetrating" the Western Hemisphere and extracting resources.

Such comments "distort the facts and repeat the same rhetoric", exposing "the entrenched Cold War and confrontational mentality of some in the US", Guo told a daily news briefing.

Guo emphasized that for years, China has engaged in practical cooperation with Latin American and Caribbean countries under the principles of mutual respect, equality, openness, inclusiveness, and win-win cooperation. Such efforts, he said, match the development needs of regional countries, serve the common interests of both sides, and have been genuinely welcomed by local governments and people.

Guo also mentioned Washington's long-standing interference and control in Latin America, saying its hegemonic practices are "plainly evident".

Latin America and the Caribbean are "not anyone's backyard", Guo said, emphasizing that China-Latin America cooperation does not target any third party, nor should it be subject to disruption by any third party.