The latest in-depth assessment report led by McCaul, the Republican chief member of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the US House of Representatives, exposed China's harmful influence in places such as Central America and Mexico, as well as in space.

(Bloomberg file photo)

U.S. report: China has harmful effects in 16 countries and regions and space

[Compilation of Mao Yi, Zhou Hongwen/Comprehensive Report] The latest in-depth assessment report "China Regional Snapshot Project" (China Regional Snapshot Project) led by Michael McCaul, the chief Republican member of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the U.S. House of Representatives, exposes China's "Detrimental effects" in 16 countries and regions around the world, including Central America and Mexico, and in space.

The report finds a "disturbing trend" in China's global activities, primarily through its predatory Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), investing and doing business around the world, targeting countries and their people around the world result in negative effect.

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U.S. Secretary of Defense: Ukrainian war controls China's strategy against Taiwan

At the same time, U.S. Secretary of Defense Austin pointed out on the 23rd that China has noticed the international community's response to Russia's aggression against Ukraine, and may take other measures against Taiwan "in order to protect itself" and avoid more radical measures to prevent international backlash.

He emphasized that no "tangible signs" of China's "self-inflicted humiliation" have been found so far.

On the 22nd, McCall issued a statement calling out that the time has come for the international community to hold the CCP accountable, and must unite to formulate an overall strategy and take comprehensive actions to counter Beijing's actions that undermine international stability.

Austin emphasized that China is still a "basic challenge" for the United States. Although it is not currently called a "threat", the two countries are indeed in a "competitive relationship."

The report stated that the BRI launched in 2013 was not a global development and investment initiative, but aimed at expanding China's high-handed influence around the world and laying the groundwork for its global projection of military power.

Beijing uses this debt trap to expand its external control, deepen its dependence on other countries and regions, and ensure its priority access to natural resources and dual-use commercial facilities.

Export intrusion technology to create "dependency trap"

At the same time, China is creating technological dependence around the world by exporting its "hacking technology" and totalitarian rule in telecommunications equipment and space-based systems.

These various "dependency traps" promote Beijing's harmful political influence over countries and their leaders.

According to the report, 147 countries have signed BRI cooperation documents, and since 2005, it is estimated that China has invested US$2.3 trillion (approximately NT$72 trillion) in global investment.

China's foreign loans and investments in the name of the BRI have caused countries in desperate need of financial support and investment to fall into a debt trap.

In addition to the well-known Sri Lanka and Laos, Djibouti received US$14 billion (approximately NT$438 billion) in investment and loans from China from 2012 to 2020, equivalent to the country's gross domestic product (GDP) of seventy percent.

China has also been using the BRI to exert malign influence and political interference, including quelling international criticism of its human rights abuses in Hong Kong and the Uyghurs, and forcing foreign governments to sever ties with Taiwan.

China has also strengthened military partnerships with authoritarian regimes such as Iran, Russia, and Venezuela, undermining the military and security interests of the United States and its regional partners.