© Reuters / Leah Millis
Mike Pompeo and James Mattis listen to China's Foreign Affairs Director Yang Jiechi, November 9, 2018.
China has come out swinging after Mike Pompeo's three-day Latin America tour in which the Secretary of State
publicly called out China for
spreading "disorder" in Latin America alongside Russia. Pompeo identified the two countries, both of which have over the past two months condemned US efforts toward regime change in Venezuela, of backing failing investment projects that only fuel corruption and undermine democracy, especially in Venezuela.
China's ambassador to Chile, Xu Bu, quickly lashed out in response to America's top diplomat blaming China for Latin America's economic woes which first came last Friday while standing alongside Chilean President Sebastian Pinera. Ambassador Xu told the Chilean newspaper
La Tercera:
"Mr Pompeo has lost his mind."
Pompeo had asserted during his tour that Chinese investment and economic intervention in Venezuela, now facing financial and infrastructural collapse amidst political turmoil, had
"helped destroy" the country and said Latin American leaders must therefore see who their "true friend" is.
Comment: It was obviously not a joke and that he really did love Wikileaks. This is just more evidence that the US president is not in charge. He was told to distance himself from Assange, and he obediently obliged.