Recently, US officials once again warned Latin American countries to exercise caution when using technologies from Chinese companies, claiming that these technologies from Chinese enterprises pose "high risks." In response, the Chinese Embassy in Panama on the 24th local time posted a cartoon on social media depicting a crying dumpling (shumai) pierced by a listening device, with the caption: "Certain people who are solely obsessed with geopolitical calculations might even suspect that there are listening devices hidden inside shumai."
On Tuesday, Chinese Ambassador to Panama Zhang Xiangyan commented that shumai is a well-known and widely loved delicacy in Panama with cultural roots in China. Using shumai as an entry point allows the irony to be more easily understood by local people.
Before releasing the satirical cartoon, on August 22, the Chinese Embassy in Panama rebutted the US's statements smearing Chinese tech companies, pointing out that groundless accusations and distortion of facts have long been typical tricks used by some US politicians. The US claims that Chinese companies conduct espionage for the Chinese Communist Party lack the most basic factual basis. "A thief crying 'stop thief,'" and "turning the tables to accuse others"—this is outright gangster logic. The US is wantonly expanding the concept of national security, restricting the normal development of Chinese companies, and coercing regional countries to replace Chinese products, amounting to naked technological bullying.
Meanwhile, at the Foreign Ministry's press conference on August 24, spokesperson Lin Jian stated that Chinese tech companies have advanced technology, high cost performance, and provide safe and efficient services. While conducting business overseas, they strictly abide by local laws, regulations, and industry standards, and have earned a high degree of recognition and favor from local partners and the public. They have also made positive contributions to local economic and social development as well as employment, and are truly trustworthy suppliers.
"As for the US, it has long engaged in surveillance, monitoring, and cyber attacks in Latin America and the Caribbean, making countries in the Americas feel unsafe and unreliable. We urge the US to stop political manipulation, stop interfering in sovereign countries' independent right to choose their partners, and do more things that are conducive to the prosperity and stability of Latin America and the Caribbean," Lin Jian said.