US military frames Chinese infrastructure in Latin America as dual-use, overlooking regional development needs
Original framing: “US military tracks 23 Chinese port projects in Latin America, general tells Congress” — South China Morning Post
The original framing omits the perspectives of Latin American governments, the economic rationale for their engagement with Chinese infrastructure, and the role of indigenous and local communities in these projects. It also lacks historical context on US military interventions in the region and the long-standing influence of Western powers in shaping infrastructure and trade routes.
Medium structural omission detected in mainstream coverage.
This narrative is produced by the US military and amplified by Western media, primarily for domestic audiences and policymakers in the United States. It serves to justify increased military spending and interventionist policies in Latin America under the guise of national security. The framing obscures the agency of Latin American governments and the complex motivations behind their engagement with Chinese infrastructure projects.
The US military's framing of Chinese infrastructure as a security threat echoes historical patterns of US intervention in Latin America, such as the Monroe Doctrine and the Cold War-era destabilization of leftist governments. These precedents show a consistent pattern of securitizing foreign influence to justify US dominance.
The US military's characterization of Chinese infrastructure in Latin America as inherently 'dual-use' reflects a securitization framework that overlooks the region's development needs and the agency of Latin American governments.