{"id":21208,"date":"2019-07-09T22:02:52","date_gmt":"2019-07-09T22:02:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/uncategorized\/2019\/07\/09\/what-the-us-needs-to-counter-chinese-influence-in-south-america\/"},"modified":"2026-08-20T16:09:28","modified_gmt":"2026-08-20T16:09:28","slug":"what-the-us-needs-to-counter-chinese-influence-in-south-america","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/pentagon\/2019\/07\/09\/what-the-us-needs-to-counter-chinese-influence-in-south-america\/","title":{"rendered":"What the US needs to counter \u2018unprecedented\u2019 Chinese influence in South America"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

WASHINGTON \u2014 As China continues to expand its global footprint, the Pentagon\u2019s top official for South America is sounding a clear alarm: China\u2019s influence in the region has reached \u201cunprecedented levels of influence and leverage,\u201d which will require a whole of government<\/a> approach from the U.S. to counter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Adm. Craig Faller<\/a>, the head of U.S. Southern Command, told the Senate Armed Services Committee\u2019s Emerging Threats subcommittee that China is only going to increase its efforts to live \u201cinside our own neighborhood seeking to displace the United States<\/a> as the partner of choice and weaken the commitment of our partners to the rule of law and democracy.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cStrong partnerships \u2014 enabled by engagements and presence, intelligence and information exchanges, and education and training \u2014 are our primary bulwark against the influence of malign actors in the hemisphere and are bolstered by our work together on military professionalism,\u201d Faller said in written testimony<\/a> submitted ahead of the Tuesday hearing, which focused on how SOUTHCOM can execute the National Defense Strategy<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\t