China has issued a sharp rebuke to comments made by Peter Lamelas, the US ambassador-designate to Argentina, saying they reflected a “Cold War mentality” after he accused Beijing of fostering corruption and being a malign influence across Latin America.
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At his Senate confirmation hearing on Tuesday, Lamelas said he intended to travel across Argentine provinces to monitor agreements involving Chinese companies, which he claimed “could lend themselves to corruption”.
On Thursday, the Chinese embassy in Buenos Aires condemned the remarks, warning that such rhetoric risked turning Argentina into “a battlefield for great power confrontation”.
The statement also accused Lamelas of ideological prejudice and criticised what it described as an outdated foreign policy reminiscent of the Monroe Doctrine.
During the hearing, Lamelas – a Cuban-born doctor and Republican donor with no prior diplomatic experience – grouped China with Cuba, Venezuela, Nicaragua and Iran, saying these governments were working to undermine democratic values in the region. He identified limiting their influence as a key objective if confirmed to the post.
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The hearing also drew swift political responses in Argentina. Several provincial governors denounced the comments as interference in domestic affairs. Buenos Aires Governor Axel Kicillof said that Lamelas would not be welcome in the province, while opposition lawmakers presented a resolution urging the government to reject the nomination altogether.