Pompeo was ‘right’ to criticise Victoria for its Belt and Roads Initiative
almost 4 years in heraldsun
The Belt and Road Initiative may seem to be about international development, it is really designed “solely serve” China’s interests according to Liberal backbencher Andrew Hastie.
The Victorian government has been criticized for refusing to release federal advice about their economic partnership with China.
Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews defended the deal saying, “it is all about Victorian jobs” and he would continue to work with China to assist the state’s economy.
The initiative is designed to link China with Asia, Europe and Africa via a massive infrastructure investment that will see the widespread construction of railways, motorways and ports.
China has offered similar loans to vulnerable countries in Asia-Pacific region, including Sri Lanka, which was unable to repay the money used to build a new port in Colombo which resulted in the communist country repossessing it.
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo also warned against the project, telling Sky News on Sunday its purpose aids the “capacity of the Chinese communist party to do harm elsewhere.”
Mr Hastie told Sky News Mr Pompeo was right to criticise Victoria for signing up to the deal.
“It’s not a commercial arrangement or a trade arrangement, it’s a strategic arrangement,” he said.
"Mike Pompeo, the US secretary of State, was absolutely right to make the points that he did.”
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