US, China Diplomats Clash Over Tech Spying and Trade Hub Claims in Latin America

Diplomats representing the United States and China in Latin America have engaged in a public dispute on social media, trading accusations over alleged espionage risks posed by Chinese technology firms operating in the region. This exchange highlights the escalating strategic tensions between the two global powers in the Western Hemisphere.

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Chinese law forces these suppliers to cooperate with Beijing’s intelligence services, creating risks of spying, hacking and network shutdowns

Juan Pablo Segura, the U.S. assistant secretary of state for western hemisphere affairs, specifically named several prominent Chinese tech companies. These included telecommunications giants Huawei Technologies, ZTE, and Hytera, surveillance equipment manufacturers Hikvision and Dahua, and drone maker DJI. In a social media post, Segura warned that Chinese law compels these suppliers to cooperate with Beijing's intelligence services, creating significant risks of spying, hacking, and potential network shutdowns.

Segura urged U.S. partners across the Americas to transition quickly to trusted suppliers to safeguard their populations and sovereignty, labeling the mentioned products as "high-risk technologies." The U.S. embassy in Panama shared his post shortly after it was published.

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We urge US partners in the Americas to quickly switch to trusted suppliers to protect their people and their sovereignty

Responding to the U.S. allegations, Beijing's diplomatic mission in Panama issued a statement on its website Sunday, vehemently rejecting Washington's claims as lacking "the slightest factual basis." The Chinese mission countered by suggesting that the United States is the entity engaging in intelligence activities throughout the region, likening the situation to a "thief shouting 'stop thief' and beating the victims."

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lacking “the slightest factual basis”