Page 12 - ARUBA TODAY

A12 WORLD NEWS
Thursday 14 November 2019
Economy in mind, Bolsonaro softens tone on China

By DAVID BILLER ate China director at the
DIANE JEANTET Washington-based Atlantic
Associated Press Council. "So far, it's doing a
BRASILIA, Brazil (AP) — good job."
What a difference a year In August, amid Western
makes. criticism of Brazil's handling
In the months before last of fires raging in the Ama-
year's presidential election zon, China defended Brazil.
in Brazil, Jair Bolsonaro de- Bolsonaro described Chi-
scribed China as predatory na's support as "priceless."
and thumbed his nose at As Brazil-Chinese diplo-
the Chinese government macy advances, there are
by visiting Taiwan, Beijing's delicate issues to navigate.
archrival. The U.S., for example, is
Now, as a more pragmatic pressuring the Brazilian gov-
president, Bolsonaro is wel- ernment to exclude Chi-
coming Chinese President nese telecommunications
Xi Jinping to an interna- giant Huawei from its auc-
tional summit that begins tion next year to provide a
Wednesday in Brasilia, the 5G network.
capital. The U.S. State Department
The first item on the agen- People walk past the BRICS Business Council sign prior the 11th edition of the BRICS Summit, in says that Huawei poses cy-
da for Bolsonaro, a far-right Brasilia, Brazil, Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2019. bersecurity risks and that it
leader who has sometimes Associated Press will review the way it shares
tried to hang the commu- intelligence about Venezu-
nist label on his political ri- voracious appetite. Those important China is to Brazil 2007 and 2018 totaled al- ela with Brazil if Huawei is
vals in Brazil, is a bilateral three products account for and that he can do busi- most $60 billion, more than allowed to provide 5G ser-
meeting with Xi. It's a sign of more than 80% of Brazil's ex- ness with China. And he's any other Latin American vice.
how Bolsonaro views China ports to China. more or less happy with country, according to the The U.S. and Brazil consid-
as critical to his ambitions Xi's visit for a meeting of that," said Mauricio Santo- Brazil-China Business Coun- er Venezuelan President
to rejuvenate Brazil's slug- leaders of the BRICS emerg- ro, professor of international cil, a Brazilian research Nicolás Maduro to be ille-
gish economy. ing economies (Brazil, Rus- relations at Rio de Janeiro's center. gitimate and want him to
Gone is last year's fiery sia, India, China and South state university, UERJ. Investments faltered in 2018 resign.
campaign trail rhetoric Africa) is his first to Brazil Before he became presi- ahead of Brazil's election, China, eager for repay-
about China being a rapa- since 2014. dent, Bolsonaro praised the part of a broader decline ment of the billions of dol-
cious power intent on ex- But his relationship with Bol- U.S. and President Donald stemming from investor lars in oil-backed loans it
ploiting Brazilian resources. sonaro has already been Trump. He often said China caution. extended to Venezuelan
China is, after all, Brazil's blossoming. can buy from Brazil, but not After Bolsonaro won the President Nicolas Maduro's
biggest trading partner. Just last month, Bolsonaro buy Brazil itself — rhetoric presidency, he took his first socialist administration,
As China expanded rapidly traveled to Beijing for eco- that continued for a while trip abroad to the U.S., then continues to support his re-
in the 2000s, eventually be- nomic and other accords, after he took office Jan. 1. in the midst of a growing gime. Bolsonaro knows he
coming the world's second including the exemption The hostile remarks didn't trade dispute with China. won't find common ground
largest economy, it relied of Chinese nationals from last, though. But Brazil didn't get caught with Xi on Venezuela when
on commodities from pro- Brazil visa requirements. Xi Brazil is dependent on for- in the middle. they meet, and will likely fo-
ducers. Brazil, Latin Amer- received him at his car and eign investment, especially "Brazil has all the reasons cus on luring more Chinese
ica's largest economy, they walked side-by-side from China. to work with both coun- investment and trade, said
shipped soybeans, iron ore on a long, red carpet. Confirmed Chinese invest- tries and not pick sides," Santoro, the international
and crude to satisfy China's "Bolsonaro discovered how ments in Brazil between said Pepe Zhang, associ- relations professor.q

Venezuela embassy in Brazil occupied by Guaidó supporters

Associated Press Guaidó said in a statement Security forces were try-
BRASILIA, Brazil (AP) — A that embassy employees ing to resolve the situation
group of people backing opened the gates to let peacefully, according to a
Venezuelan opposition sympathizers in. statement from the Brazil-
leader Juan Guaidó occu- Brazil and more than 50 ian president’s institutional
pied the nation’s embassy other nations recognize security office. The state-
in Brazil’s capital, Brasilia, Guaidó as Venezuela’s le- ment said President Jair
on Wednesday. gitimate president. Bolsonaro had no knowl-
An official from President At least two left-leaning edge of the group’s plans
Nicolás Maduro’s govern- Brazilian lawmakers were to occupy the embassy.
ment said some 20 people also within the embassy. Wednesday is the first day
forcibly invaded the em- Some 20 Brazilian military of the Brazil-hosted summit
bassy early Wednesday. police officers were sta- for BRICS nations, which
The official spoke on condi- tioned outside, where Bra- also include Russia, India,
A supporter of the Venezuelan opposition leader and self-pro- tion of anonymity for lack zilian sympathizers from China and South Africa.
claimed interim president of Venezuela Juan Guaido, right,
confronts a supporters of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, of authorization to speak both sides of the political Brazil is the only one of
outside the Venezuelan Embassy, in Brasilia, Brazil, Wednesday, publicly. spectrum argued with one those countries to recog-
Nov. 13, 2019. The Venezuelan represen- another and had several nize Guaidó as Venezue-
Associated Press tative to Brazil named by physical altercations. la’s leader.q