In late December 2022, NOAA Fisheries, responsible for managing the United States’ ocean resources, announced a plan to expand and update the Seafood Import Monitoring Program (SIMP) aimed at curbing illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing worldwide. “The program is one of several tools NOAA utilizes to combat IUU fishing [ … ]
China
Confronting China, Iran, and Russia Against Threats to Democracy
Washington, D.C.-based think tank Center for a Secure Free Society (SFS) hosted the 2023 Western Hemisphere Security Forum on January 19, bringing together political leaders and defense, intelligence, and law enforcement officials of the region to analyze issues such as threats to democracies in Latin America and strategies to confront [ … ]
China Plunders Bolivian Gold
Chinese companies have been hiding behind mining cooperatives to extract gold in the northern regions of the department of La Paz, Bolivia. These cooperatives receive an income in exchange for maintaining secrecy. These Chinese companies have been enriching themselves with Bolivian gold without paying taxes, while polluting and damaging the [ … ]
Panama Creates IUU Fishing Protection Center
In early January, Panama’s President Laurentino Cortizo announced the creation of an interinstitutional center, which objective will be to rigorously combat illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing. The center will contribute to the development of measures against IUU fishing and water pollution for the conservation and protection of the marine [ … ]
US Invests $13.7 Million in Costa Rica to Combat Narcotrafficking
On February 7, the United States pledged to give Costa Rica $13.7 million worth of security equipment to “improve” the Central American country’s ability to combat narcotrafficking, said U.S. Army General Laura J. Richardson, commander of U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM). “I am pleased to announce [...] initiatives that will enhance [ … ]
China’s Police Operates Around the World
According to the report from Spain-based human rights group Safeguard Defenders Patrol and Persuade, Beijing established at least 102 undercover Chinese police stations in 53 countries to monitor and force its exiled citizens, mainly dissidents, to return to China to face charges. “Everything indicates that the work [of the stations] [ … ]
Chile and Bolivia Seize 690 Tons of Chemical Precursors from China
Agents of the Investigative Brigade of Controlled Chemical Substances (BRISUQ) of Chile’s Investigative Police (PDI) and Chile’s Customs Service concluded 2022 with an unprecedented seizure at the Port of Arica. The seizure consisted of dozens of containers with more than 690 tons of chemical precursors used for the manufacture of [ … ]
China’s Network of Ports Grows in Latin America
According to a late 2022 study by the U.S.-based national security and defense think tank Center for a Secure Free Society (SFS), the number of Chinese-owned or operated ports worldwide has increased considerably. China’s foothold in some 40 ports in Latin America from Peru to Mexico, combined with 11 satellite [ … ]
China’s Belt and Road Initiative Loses Steam
The Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), which China adopted in 2013 to develop land and maritime infrastructure projects in less developed countries of Asia, Africa, Latin America, the Middle East, and Central and Eastern Europe, appears to be falling short of its original objectives, Forbes reported in late November 2022. [ … ]
FAO Intensifies Fight Against IUU Fishing
The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization’s (FAO) Port State Measures Agreement (PSMA) has the backing of 100 countries ready to step up the fight against illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing, FAO said in a November 7 statement. [caption id="attachment_79437" align="alignright" width="300"] Front, from left: Ecuadorian Army Major General [ … ]
China Pressures Argentina to Build Naval Base
China is once again pressuring Argentina to build a naval base in Ushuaia, Tierra del Fuego province, which would mean opening the door to Antarctica for Beijing. The military base would allow China to control the passage between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans and monitor communications throughout the hemisphere, amounting [ … ]
China Expands Influence in Nicaragua
Since the Ortega-Murillo regime of Nicaragua broke its diplomatic ties with Taiwan, the bond of friendship between Nicaragua and the People’s Republic of China has grown stronger in a number of strategic areas. One example are the frequent meetings between high authorities of the two countries. On November 16, the [ … ]