As the top U.S. defense and diplomatic official meets with allies in Asia to find ways to counter threats from a rising and increasingly aggressive China, a key U.S. military commander warns that the front lines of Washington’s competition with Beijing over international mastery may be closer to the U.S. homeland.
Adm. Craig Faller, commander of U.S. Southern Command, which is responsible for U.S. military affairs in Central and South America, told members of Congress Tuesday (March 16) that China’s exploitation of the new crown Epidemic and growing lawlessness in Central and South America, imposing its will on a growing number of countries, has become the top threat in the region.
“I see this hemisphere as the front line of competition,” Faller told members of the Senate Armed Services Committee. He further described Beijing’s approach as a “full-court press.”
“I have a sense of urgency,” he added. “Our influence is waning.”
Farrer’s comments are the latest in a series of increasingly dire warnings issued by key U.S. military officials in recent weeks. The military officials warned lawmakers about China’s ambitions and how far they believe Beijing will go to turn them into reality.
Just last week, the commander of U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, Admiral Philip Davis, told the Senate Armed Services Committee that Washington’s inability to adequately top back Chinese military activity is encouraging China to become increasingly aggressive.
Earlier this month, Rear Adm. Michael Stallman, chief intelligence officer for Indo-Pacific Command, said in a Web video conference that the U.S. is starting to get a “taste” of what could happen.
He said, “You’re going to find a very global, expeditionary Chinese military that will step in wherever they think Chinese interests are threatened.”
President Joe Biden‘s administration appears to be taking these warnings seriously.
Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and Secretary of State Anthony Blinken are using their first overseas trips to consult with allies, including Japan and South Korea, in part to address the growing danger posed by China and to discuss ways to hold Beijing accountable for undermining prevailing international norms.
However, Faller warned Tuesday that the threat, which he repeatedly described as “lurking,” is actually much closer to the United States.
“Some examples include their pursuit of multiple port agreements, loans for political influence, vaccine diplomacy that undermines sovereignty, state surveillance, information technology and misuse of resources such as illegal, unregulated and unreported fishing,” he told reporters at the Pentagon after testifying on Capitol Hill.
Farrer said China’s vaccine diplomacy is particularly troubling.
“They’re using vaccines as a bargaining chip for their information technology, their 5G,” he told lawmakers at Tuesday’s hearing. “They’re using it to try to create discord between some countries, like Taiwan and other countries in the region.”
The U.S. Southern Command commander confirmed reports in the New York Times and other media outlets. Those reports say China has refused to share vaccines with Central and South American countries that maintain diplomatic relations with Taiwan unless they cut or reduce their ties with Taiwan.
The concern doesn’t stop at these places.
Air Force Adm. Glenn Van Hoek, commander of U.S. Northern Command, which is responsible for U.S. military and security affairs in parts of the Caribbean, the Bahamas and Mexico, told lawmakers Tuesday that China’s influence keeps edging northward.
“They are absolutely trying to influence the Bahamas, for example, through 5G, in the Northern Command area of responsibility,” Van Hert said. “And the same in Mexico.”
U.S. military officials have also expressed concern about the growing relationship between Chinese operations in Central and South America and transnational crime. Southern Command Commander Farrer called it the second biggest threat to the U.S. in the Americas.
“They deal in drugs, people, guns and illegal mining,” Farrer said of the various criminal organizations that have gained a foothold throughout the region. “Their primary source of funding for these practices is Chinese money laundering.”
To counter China, Faller urged lawmakers to help ensure that the United States can have a continued presence and partnership.
“It’s important that we maintain our engagement in this hemisphere,” he said. “This is our neighborhood, close at hand, and the stakes are high.”
Farrer said, “What I’ve heard our partners say is …… ‘We want to partner with you, but when you’re drowning, you need a Life preserver — whoever throws it to you, you’re going to catch it. ”
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