Dear Editor,
Thank you for a well written, clever editorial, “China and the border” (SN Jun 15), that correctly analyzes the government’s cozy relations with China and the latter’s position on Venezuela that threatens to usurp two thirds of our mineral rich territory. Guyana cannot trust China on the border.
China has not given Guyana firm support on the border controversy and has not reprimanded or condemned Venezuela on its unjustifiable claim. China has a significant presence in Guyana in terms of exploiting our natural resources (gold, timber, fish, diamond, rare earth, manganese, sand or silica, among others) and construction as well as providing loans at exorbitant interest rates. Guyana has huge trade links (deficits) with China. The Chinese engage in sand pitting and ownership of mines. Yet, China has not found it prudent to side with Guyana whose very existence has been threatened by Venezuela with which China has extremely friendly relations.
Clearly, China cannot be trusted to defend Guyana’s national territory or our national interests, and must, therefore, be handled firmly as it relates to Venezuela and on other matters regarding national development. In contrast, the USA is fully with Guyana and has come out firmly on our side, denouncing Venezuela’s claim to our territory. In fact, Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated unequivocally that the US will defend Guyana’s territory and American companies operating in Guyana’s waters. We can trust the Americans, not China when it comes to defending our territory. The latter has not championed our interests regarding Venezuela. China wants to retain close relations with Venezuela while fetching our resources that is used to transform China into a first world nation while we remain third world.
It is not forgotten that China owns some 25% of the Stabroek Block, obtaining billions of American dollars in revenues annually since 2019 and returning virtually nothing in terms of grants and aid to Guyana from the returns. Exxon does sponsor many community and sports projects and off trading to Guyanese in the hundreds of millions in American dollars; China’s grants are minuscule compared with Exxon and the Americans. In Guyana, alone, the Chinese has invested close to ten billion dollars in recent years and have extracted resources worth over 100 billion over the same period; gold, lumber, manganese, and other critical minerals have being shipped out of Guyana almost daily over the last couple decades. The Chinese has provided large amounts of loans to Guyana and has heavily indebted the country which we may have difficulty repaying and suffer the faiths that have befallen Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Maldives, Nepal, and Bangladesh.
It is not an exaggeration to say that China will soon own Guyana. It is rapidly taking over Guyanese family businesses. Guyanese have been complaining to deaf ear. The politicians and the government Guyana must avoid further entangling of our country (investment, trade, loans, military presence, satellite links, and other security matters) with China.
The Americans will offer protection of our border against gangs coming from Venezuela and drug cartels smuggling drugs and gold from across the border to Europe, North America, and the Middle East. The US will also protect our forests and sea shelf that are rich in economically important resources like oil, gas, and rare earth minerals. A group of Guyanese in the diaspora and in Guyana are advocating for a close linkage with USA for security against Venezuela and narco trafficking. Some are even proposing that Guyana become a territory of USA. They recognize the power and influence of USA and President Trump who has shown to be among the most powerful President in the history of America.
Sincerely,
Dr. Vishnu Bisram
