Foreign Policy

White House: 'Grave concern' about China interfering in Western Hemisphere

By Joel Gehrke
Published August 24, 2018 3:13pm ET
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White House: 'Grave concern' about China interfering in Western Hemisphere
El Salvador's Foreign Minister Carlos Castaneda, left, and China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi walk together for a signing ceremony to mark the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing Tuesday, Aug. 21, 2018. Taiwan broke off diplomatic ties with El Salvador on Tuesday as the Central American country defected to rival Beijing in the latest blow to the self-ruled island China has been trying to isolate on the global stage. | (Mark Schiefelbein/AP)

Chinese influence in the Western Hemisphere is of “grave concern” to President Trump, the White House warned after El Salvador established diplomatic relations with the Communist power.

El Salvador severed ties with the Taiwanese government in order to form a relationship with the People’s Republic of China, which regards Taiwan as a breakaway island led by separatist forces. The swap was a symbolic blow to Taiwan, and it also expands Chinese influence in Central America at the potential expense of the United States.

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Tag:

China El Salvador Sarah Huckabee Sanders Taiwan