By EARYEL BOWLEG
Tribune Staff Reporter
ebowleg@tribunemedia.net
PRIME Minister Philip “Brave” Davis said CARICOM would not engage in geopolitical tensions between the United States and China, responding to a letter from US lawmakers urging the State Department to send a high-level delegation to the upcoming CARICOM Heads of Government meeting to help thwart “coercion” from China.
The letter suggested that the meeting could enhance the United States’ commitment to diplomatic, energy, economic, and security ties with Caribbean partners, emphasising the need for US engagement to counter China’s influence.
“CARICOM is not going to get involved in the geopolitical issues between superpowers,” Mr Davis told reporters yesterday. “We have always taken the vision of being non-aligned and respecting those matters.”
Mr Davis noted that when he chaired CARICOM in February 2023, a US delegation of more than 60 people attended, making their presence and influence felt. He said numerous promises were made, and bilateral discussions took place, adding that work must be done to build upon that initial engagement.
For his part, Foreign Affairs Minister Fred Mitchell said in a statement yesterday that the country’s relations with China are based on mutual respect and the investments in The Bahamas are on purely commercial terms, adding there is “no ideological quid pro quo”.
“We are not involved, nor do we see ourselves as engaged in or part of any ideological war or geopolitical brinksmanship,” he said. “To state the obvious, we are 50 miles off the coast of the United States with an import-based economy, where, for example, 90 percent of the food we eat is sourced by the United States.
“We have significant cultural and family ties with the people of the United States. Almost every Bahamian has a family member who is American. We have diplomatic relations with China just as the United States does. We do not interfere in China’s internal affairs and they do not interfere with ours.”
“There is no evidence to support the view that this country is being used as a platform by China to attack the United States. We would not be party to any such effort.”
He expressed the government’s commitment to the “One China” policy, adopted in 1997 to recognise Taiwan as a part of China rather than an independent state.
Mr Mitchell said The Bahamas welcomes all legitimate investments, which undergo thorough scrutiny to ensure they benefit the Bahamian people and align with regional security interests. He said the government is actively seeking affordable funding for infrastructure projects and is open to US investment if available, with a list of vetted projects ready for financing.
The letter from US lawmakers was signed by House Foreign Affairs Committee Congressman Gregory W Meeks, Congresswoman Yvette D Clarke, Congresswoman Stacey E Plaskett, and Ranking Member Stacey E Plaskett Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere Congressman Joaquin Castro.
US Charge d’Affaires Kimberly Furnish had previously called on The Bahamas to begin “reducing Chinese influence” and work with regional partners to ensure “mutual economic growth”.
Source: The Tribune
The Nassau Guardian also reported on this story, quoting the U.S. Chargé d”Affaires to The Bahamas in more detail on the U.S. – China context.
… Chinese influence in the region was also addressed by US Embassy Chargé d’Affaires Kimberley Furnish at Grand Bahama Business Outlook in Freeport on Thursday.
Furnish said it is imperative that regional partners like The Bahamas “resist” the “malign” influence of China, a country which she said makes big promises but “delivers little”.
Furnish highlighted the Trump administration’s foreign policy agenda, which she said involves reengaging in the Western Hemisphere and strengthening economic ties with nations closer to home.
“To ensure our mutual economic growth, it is also imperative that we address the challenges that threaten our shared values and interests,” she said.
“At the forefront of our regional challenges is the malign influence of US adversaries. However, as our regional partners grow capacity, we can more easily resist countries like China. China promises much but delivers little.
“Making America great also means helping our neighbors like The Bahamas achieve greatness.
“To achieve this greatness [involves] working with trustworthy partners to improve infrastructure, ports and transportation networks.
“The importance of trusted networks is made even more critical given local projections of over six million visitors to Grand Bahama by 2027.
“This tenfold increase requires a significant investment in strategic partnerships, and we hope to remain your partner of choice in these initiatives,” Furnish said.
The Chinese Embassy in Nassau did not offer comment when contacted yesterday.
Source: Nassau Guardian