Communist China’s Rapid Caribbean Encroachment Threatens America’s Third Border
The steady drumbeat of China’s advances in the Caribbean inexorably increases, threatening the United States’ position as the dominant superpower and undermining regional stability. It is no secret that Communist China seeks to dethrone the U.S., but it is the rapid and relentless nature of its Caribbean campaign that is raising alarm. China’s foothold just a stone’s throw from American shores represents a seismic shift in the global power dynamic and has U.S. officials on high alert.
A Newsweek report revealed that China is establishing a strong presence on the island of Antigua, situated a mere few hundred miles from the U.S. Virgin Islands. A Chinese-run special economic zone is currently under construction, offering everything from cryptocurrencies and logistics services to facial surgery and “virology”. Operating with its own customs, immigration formalities, shipping port, and dedicated airline, China’s expansion on America’s “third border” is increasing in scale.
The main concern among U.S. officials is that China will use such developments as a Trojan horse, hiding their military ambitions behind economic and diplomatic activities. Commercial agreements in Asia, Africa, and the Middle East have already been exploited by China for military purposes. The defenses in place on Antigua risk being manipulated in the same way, leaving one of America’s crucial regional frontiers vulnerable.
Antiguan Prime Minister Gaston Browne is a staunch supporter of Chinese dictator Xi Jinping, who Browne has allowed to finance Antigua’s economic ventures. Some speculate that Browne has “sold out” the country, but Antigua’s government has remained tight-lipped about China’s influence on its domestic affairs. A spokesperson for Florida’s Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) stated that China is a potential threat to the Americans and their regional allies. “We are aware that China may use its commercial and diplomatic presence for military purposes,” they said, adding that China’s encroachment in the Western Hemisphere adds an additional layer of risk to its global presence.
China’s rapid expansion has led many to wonder if it is using the Caribbean as an intelligence base or listening post. Furthermore, the Chinese Communist Party’s track record of targeting, recruiting, and bribing officials suggests that their operations in the area could have ulterior motives. SOUTHCOM emphasized that China’s potential intelligence activities in the region would almost certainly be aimed at the U.S. and its commercial and military interests in the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean.
As Antigua becomes ever more deeply entwined with China, tensions rise between the U.S. and China’s Caribbean allies, who view America as the enemy. The growing bond between China and Antigua, just a short distance from U.S. territory, is a stark reminder that the balance of world power can shift rapidly. Many worry that Antigua has traded its sovereignty, becoming overly reliant on one partner—China—and leaving the U.S. vulnerable economically and militarily.
America now faces a turning point as it confronts its own potential decline if it fails to recognize and respond to the rapidly escalating Chinese encroachment in the Caribbean region. There is a growing sense of urgency around this complex and ever-changing tug-of-war between the two superpowers; every piece of new information paints a more troubling picture.
In conclusion, the rapid rise of China’s presence in the Caribbean represents a significant threat to the United States, not only as the world’s leading superpower, but also economically and militarily. If left unchecked, this expanding relationship between China and the region’s nations could see the balance of global power shift dramatically. The U.S. must acknowledge and address this pressing issue to maintain its dominance and safeguard its strategic interests in the region.
