Reading Time: 4 minutes

The U.S. Government is making it clear that it will not tolerate China’s growing presence in Jamaica and that the Asian powerhouse poses a threat to the American mainland.

U.S. Senator John Curtis went on record saying that China’s ownership of Jamaican ports, infrastructure and telecommunication systems has implications for American national security.

Many U.S. politicians, particularly those supportive of the Trump administration, are of the view that the Jamaican government is ‘pally’ with the CCP and that it should be checked.

Over the last decade, China has invested over US$5 billion in Jamaica, granting loans at low interest rates, building modern highways, constructed hospitals. Chinese companies have done well in Jamaica.

Although the U.S. is Jamaica’s leading trading partner, its direct investment, according to the International Trade Administration (ITA), was  US$276 million in 2023, concentrated in tourism, energy and telecommunications.

China has invested far more in Jamaica than the United States, which, in effect, has not stepped up and seen Jamaica’s potential.

It is a disparity that is causing tension, and it will call for great diplomatic skills on the part of Jamaica as it looks not to agitate both China and America.

China is a world power and an example to countries like Jamaica that they can go from developing, low-income status to becoming a developed state in a generation.

Prime Minister Holness has stated on a number of occasions that the development and modernisation of Jamaica remains a top priority and that he welcomes investment in a multi-polar world.

President Trump has tapped his friend and ally Kari Lake to be the next U.S. Ambassador to Jamaica, and she has said that on her agenda is diminishing China’s presence in Jamaica and getting more American companies to come to the country.

Speaking at a Senate Foreign Relations Committee Hearing, Lake said: “You know if you’re not putting out your story, somebody else is. The Americans have done such great work with our partners in Jamaica. They’re neighbours. We have a great relationship. Culturally, we are more similar to China than to Jamaica, and we need to tell the people what we’re doing. We were on the ground in massive numbers after the hurricane. The U.S. military carried out 133 flights in the hours after the hurricane struck, and we brought in almost 480/500 humanitarian relief workers.

“We brought in search-and-rescue crews and heavy equipment to move debris off roads. Entire communities were cut off, and sadly, there were 45 deaths, and many others were hurt. A quarter of a million people were displaced and needed housing. America was there. We need to tell that story. We will continue to be there, but we cannot continue to watch as China make huge moves right here in our front yard.”

Prime Minister Andrew Holness has repeatedly said that China is a friend and strategic partner making tremendous contributions to the Jamaican economy.

“Jamaica has to take better care in choosing its friends. We will not tolerate China using Jamaica as a staging post to threaten us. Close to 75 per cent of Jamaican tourists come from America, Jamaicans hunger for a U.S. visa, and most of Jamaica’s remittances come from America. It would be a shame to see all that stop because your government made the wrong choice.

“Jamaica can’t take both America and China to the prom. It has to choose one and live by its decision. Kari Lake will straighten things out down there, and Jamaica will do as she says, if it knows what is in its best interests. She’s not coming to smile sweetly, do the cocktail circuit, drink rum and Cokes, and eat jerk chicken.

“We want to see more American businesses in Jamaica and the Government there extend the hand of true friendship to us, your true partner,“ said Gordon Parsons, who has worked with the American First Policy Institute.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio has said that Jamaica has fallen into “debt-0rap diplomacy” with all the Chinese investments and is naive to China’s predatory practices. He notes that China’s government-subsidised companies underbid the competition and won all the contracts. He says he wants to see a level playing field.

China has not interfered in the affairs of state in Jamaica and stresses it wants to help with the development of the economy as a friend to the country.

Jamaica is an independent sovereign state, and Prime Minister Andrew Holness has made the point that we no longer live in a bipolar world. Donald Trump is not the only powerful leader in the world. Today, we live in a multi-polar world.

Prime Minister Andrew Holness frames Jamaica’s foreign policy as a strategic tool to secure economic independence and attract international investment. His intention is not to incur the wrath of the Trump administration but rather to make Jamaica an attractive destination for investment.

“Venezuela, Iran and Cuba were all independent sovereign countries, but look at them now. China’s foothold in Jamaica is non-negotiable and a threat to our national security. Jamaica has allowed Huawei to control its telecommunications systems, its major port is owned by the Chinese. It isn’t hard to tell that this is a clear risk, and Jamaica is thumbing its nose at us. What we will do is ensure the protection of our homeland. We will not countenance a Chinese vassal state on our doorstep,” said researcher Christopher Hibbert of the American Enterprise Institute (AEI).