Rising People’s Republic of China (PRC) technological influence in the Caribbean and Latin America worries the U.S., which convened a summit to discuss solutions in Washington, D.C. AFP/GETTY IMAGES
THE WATCH STAFF
The U.S. government is trying to combat People’s Republic of China (PRC) propaganda by convening a conference of more than 20 countries to warn of the dangers of targeted disinformation campaigns and the growing presence of Chinese cybertechnology in the Caribbean and Latin America.
The Western Hemisphere Cyber Conference, which took place October 3-4, 2023, signals that the U.S. sees Latin America as a crucial battleground between its influence and that of the PRC, which has sought to expand next-generation wireless networks in Mexico and other Latin American countries. PRC-backed hackers have also been active in the region, according to a report in The Messenger, a Florida-based news website.
“What we are seeing is an assertive [PRC] seeking to gain an increasing foothold in certain Latin American countries’ infrastructure, and that creates a greater level of vulnerability,” Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas told reporters during a briefing on October 2, 2023, according to the Messenger.
“In an increasingly interconnected world,” he said, “we need to make sure that our partners are cyber-strong and have the secure infrastructure that enables them to seize the opportunities of interconnectivity and guard against … vulnerabilities.”
At the conference, which the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) hosted at the Washington, D.C., headquarters of the Organization of American States, Latin American and U.S. officials discussed ways to work together to identify, thwart and publicly call out hackers, whether they’re lone criminals, gang members or nation-state operatives.
“We will speak of the work that we can all do together to strengthen our collective cybersecurity [and] to assist these partner countries,” Mayorkas said, according to The Messenger.
This year, U.S. officials raised the alarm about a series of apparently connected Twitter (now known as X) accounts promoting PRC objectives in Spanish and targeting Chile, Costa Rica and Paraguay, reported Time magazine.
Iranga Kahangama, the assistant DHS secretary for cyber, infrastructure, risk and resilience, told reporters before the summit that his department has identified dozens of opportunities for cybersecurity collaboration after the summit, including U.S. security assessments and training programs. DHS is also working with the Organization of American States to find other ways to boost countries’ digital defenses.
“This is not just a one-off conference,” Kahangama said, according to The Messenger. “It’s the start of a long-lasting relationship with the region on cyber.”
The summit is part of a larger effort by the U.S. to counter growing Chinese influence in the region, The Messenger reported.
The Dominican Republic and Guatemala have embraced China-based Huawei’s new 5G networks and related infrastructure. The PRC-linked firms have also installed national surveillance camera networks in Bolivia, Ecuador and Venezuela.
China’s presence there is “a concern that we consider [to be] of great prominence,” Mayorkas said, according to The Messenger. “For countries that pride themselves on their independence, on their sovereignty … they have to maintain the independence and freedom of their infrastructure.”
To help combat PRC designs, the U.S. is proposing a regional hub in Costa Rica for cybersecurity assistance and training.
“We need to partner with one another to strengthen the cybersecurity of the region as well as the individual countries,” Mayorkas said. “We are exploring the opportunity of a hub, and we are going to be discussing different models to achieve regional cybersecurity.”