Within our own hemisphere, Beijing has extended a lifeline to the corrupt and incompetent Maduro regime in Venezuela that's been oppressing its own people. They pledged $5 billion in questionable loans to be repaid with oil. China is also that country's single largest creditor, saddling the Venezuelan people with more than $50 billion in debt, even as their democracy vanishes. Beijing is also impacting some nations' politics by providing direct support to parties and candidates who promise to accommodate China's strategic objectives.
【延伸閱讀】委內瑞拉求北京撒幣？總統馬杜洛會習近平，簽署合作能源與一帶一路
台灣民主為中國指路
去年以來，中國共產黨勸說三個拉丁美洲國家與台灣斷交，轉而承認北京。這些行動威脅到台海穩定──美利堅合眾國對此予以譴責。儘管我們政府將遵守三個聯合公報和《台灣關係法》反映的一個中國政策，美國始終相信，台灣擁抱民主為所有華人指出了一條更好的道路。（掌聲）
And since last year alone, the Chinese Communist Party has convinced three Latin American nations to sever ties with Taipei and recognize Beijing. These actions threaten the stability of the Taiwan Strait, and the United States of America condemns these actions. And while our administration will continue to respect our One China Policy, as reflected in the three joint communiqués and the Taiwan Relations Act, America will always believe that Taiwan's embrace of democracy shows a better path for all the Chinese people. (Applause.)
