Peter Lamelas, the United States ambassador to Argentina, groundlessly criticized the ongoing cooperation between China and Argentina, as well as broader China-Latin America relations, in a recent interview with a local media outlet in Salta, Argentina.

In the interview, he reiterated that Argentina should "be concerned" about its relations with its second-largest trading partner in terms of security, communications and key infrastructure.

"We are paying attention to Latin America. The Chinese are competitors and have different interests, different values. We have to be concerned about that," he said.

His remarks, steeped in ideological bias, starkly reflect his Cold War-era zero-sum mentality. That was on full display during his nomination hearing when he spoke of standing firm against "the malign influence of adversarial powers in the region", and vowed to "work to create opportunities for American businesses" and "align Argentina's interests with our own".

Such prejudiced rhetoric disregards the realities of the mutually beneficial China-Argentina partnership, and constitutes a blatant interference in Argentina's sovereignty and internal affairs.

By attempting to dictate Argentina's cooperative relationships with other countries, Lamelas has acted as though he were in charge of the policies of the nation where he is stationed. This behavior harks back to the dark era of US interference in Latin America's internal affairs in past centuries.

The Chinese embassy in Argentina has expressed resolute opposition to these remarks. As the spokesperson for the embassy said in a statement, the 21st-century international stage should not replay the geopolitical dramas of the 19th century. The path of development and choice of partners for Latin American countries should only be determined by their own people.

Lamelas' egregious remarks essentially aim to incite ideological confrontation. By portraying the normal cooperation between China and Latin American countries as a "threat", he attempts to obstruct these partnerships under the guise of "security" and "values". This mindset is not only a regression to Cold War logic, but also a violation of the fundamental principles of international relations.

The cooperation between China and Latin American countries has always been based on principles of equality and mutual benefit. It aims to promote shared development rather than seeking geopolitical gains or expanding spheres of influence.

The tangible benefits of China-Argentina cooperation are undeniable. From agricultural trade to infrastructure development, from financial collaboration to the renewable energy sector, the pragmatic cooperation between the two nations has laid a foundation for their comprehensive strategic partnership.

In the first three quarters of 2025, bilateral trade between China and Argentina reached $19.61 billion, marking a 51.81 percent increase year-on-year. Argentine exports to China, including beef, lithium resources and other agricultural and mineral products, constitute a significant portion of its total exports.

Chinese investment and technological support, meanwhile, have provided critical backing for Argentina's economic transformation and infrastructure development. The partnership between the two countries not only aligns with Argentina's economic interests, but also injects new vitality into the stability and development of the Latin American region.

Buenos Aires has emphasized that trade relations with China do not contradict Argentina's policy of developing its relationship with the US. This pragmatic diplomatic stance reflects Argentina's independent choices as a sovereign nation and demonstrates a rational view of the international situation.

Lamelas' attempt to revive the "China threat" theory reflects the US' revival of the Monroe Doctrine, in which the US views Latin America as its own backyard and seeks to prevent nations in the region from having relationships with other countries.

The US military moves in Venezuela this year, its decades-long sanctions and coercion against Cuba and other regional countries, along with its restrictive policies toward the whole Latin America — including the high border walls it continues to build — clearly show the Latin American people and the rest of the world which country is practicing hegemony in the region and which country poses the real threat to it.

China regards Latin American countries as partners, and it is working together with them to promote shared development, contributing to regional and global peace and prosperity.