Mexican president criticizes U.S. sanctions against Cuba and support for Ukraine, appoints U.S. coordinator for China
The Mexican president publicly criticized the U.S. economic sanctions against Cuba and support for Ukraine, demanding on the 30th that sanctions would increase refugees and that Ukraine's support funds should be used to support the production of semiconductor and electric vehicles.
The Biden administration appointed a veteran diplomat to the China House of the State Department on this day and expanded and changed the adjustment of its China relationship strategy.
Mexico's president criticized US aid to Ukraine and economic sanctions against Venezuela, Cuba and other countries after the first of two high-level US-Mexico meetings in Washington on the 30th.
President Andrés Manuel López Obrador issued a broad criticism of U.S. foreign policy, saying, “United States economic sanctions are forcing us to emigrate from Cuba, Venezuela, and Nicaragua.”
The Mexican president's critical remarks came as U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo, and Trade Representative Catherine Tai met with Mexico's representative at the State Department, Alicia Barcena, Mexican Foreign Secretary, and Economy Minister Raquel Buenrostro.
AP said of the meeting with Mexican officials, “They (Mexican officials) focus on expanding trade and economic ties, welcome new cooperation on these fronts, and emphasize their commitment to combating the surge of synthetic opioids such as fentanyl from Mexico to the United States.” “I did it,” he said.
AP went on to acknowledge the increase in migration due to economic sanctions, saying, “As migration surges in the Americas, UN says ‘funding simply does not exist’ for humanitarian response.”
“By creating the right incentives and business environment and leveraging the strengths of both countries, we have a tremendous opportunity to make North America the most competitive, productive and dynamic region in the world,” said Secretary of State Blinken. “We continue to strengthen, expand and diversify our supply chains in emerging industries such as semiconductors,” he said of the meeting with Mexico. “The United States and Mexico are launching new initiatives for semiconductor production.”
President López Obrador responded by saying, “The United States should use some of the money it sent to Ukraine to develop the economy in Latin America. “They (the United States) do nothing,” he said. “They approve of the war in Ukraine far more than they provide to help poverty in Latin America and the Caribbean.”
The Mexican president went on to say, "The United States' program to lift the blockade and stop the harassment of independent and free nations, united to prevent the forced displacement of Venezuelans, Cubans, Nicaraguans, Ecuadorians, Guatemalans and Hondurans." He called for a “cooperative plan.”
Talks between Mexico and the United States focused on economic issues on the 30th, and next week, Secretary of State Blinken, Attorney General Merrick Garland, and Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas will lead a U.S. delegation to Mexico to discuss border security and migration issues. Start negotiations.
The State Department said in a statement on the 30th that Secretary Blinken would meet President López Obrador during his trip to Mexico.
The AP reported, “In recent weeks, there has been a surge in the number of Venezuelan migrants traveling through Mexico to reach the U.S. border,” adding, “Many migrants say they were prompted to make the trip by worsening economic and political conditions in their home country.”
The AP continued, “Experts say mismanagement and political repression are largely responsible for the waves of migrants leaving Venezuela and Cuba,” adding, “Mexico, which borders the U.S., has condemned Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, but has adopted a policy of neutrality and expressed interest in participating in sanctions.” We have declined to do so and are continuing to purchase 2020 vintage COVID-19 vaccines from Russia and Cuba.”
In remarks that day, the Mexican president belittled the efforts of U.S. Republican lawmakers to cut the small amount of foreign aid the U.S. provides to Mexico, calling them "ridiculous."
In response to China, which has a strategic conflict, the U.S. State Department appointed veteran diplomat Mark Lambert as the department's top China policy official on the 30th.
"Lambert will be the deputy assistant secretary for China and Taiwan and will lead the Office of the Coordinator for China, informally known as China House," the State Department said in its appointment. "He has deep experience on issues related to the People's Republic of China (PRC), its allies, and partners." “We establish policies linked to and protect the integrity of the international system.”
Reuters said of the State Department's China House, "The department was created late last year to integrate and better coordinate China policy across regions and issues, but it has faced criticism for adding more layers to an already complex decision-making process." “The Biden administration has appointed veteran diplomat Mark Lambert as the State Department’s top China policy official at a time when relations between the two strategic rivals remain troubled by issues including Taiwan, trade and U.S. curbs on China’s access to U.S. technology.” He was appointed,” he said.
The United States and China are in conflict over trade with Taiwan, fentanyl (drugs), and human rights issues in their strategic diplomatic approach.
The Biden administration, which values diplomacy, is trying to open communication channels while strengthening measures to restrict China's access to sensitive American cutting-edge technology, and is unable to avoid mutual conflict.
In a situation where the U.S. North Korean Human Rights Act and China's forcible repatriation of North Korean defectors are conflicting, North Korea showed on the 26th that it was strengthening China's forcible repatriation measures by ‘expelling Private King, a detainee who defected to North Korea.’
Unification Minister Kim Young-ho said, “North Korean defectors in China should be defined as refugees with the right to protect their lives and human rights rather than illegal entrants,” adding, “The issue of detention and forcible repatriation of North Korean defectors in China continues to be raised by South Korea and the international community.” "We request the Chinese government's cooperation. North Korean defectors in China should be guaranteed their human rights in accordance with international standards and be able to enter the country of their choice, such as South Korea," he said on August 16.
The Yoon Seok-yeol government will provide $5 million (KRW 6.8 billion) in fertilizer support to Ukraine through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), USAID announced in a press release on the 29th.