China's Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun has rejected claims by the United States Southern Command chief that China is "penetrating" the Western Hemisphere, describing such assertions as distortions rooted in Cold War mentality. China urged the U.S. to cease sowing discord and to respect the sovereignty of Latin American and Caribbean nations, allowing them to determine their own policies independently. The Chinese government also criticized the U.S. for manipulating the concept of "freedom of navigation" to extend its influence and apply military pressure on other countries, actions that China says threaten international maritime stability and order. In response to recent U.S. military deployments in the Eastern Caribbean, civil society group Mundo Sur condemned the move as a direct threat to Venezuela and the wider region. Additionally, Russia, China, Iran, and the ALBA-TCP alliance collectively condemned U.S. threats and military presence in the Caribbean. China emphasized that Latin America and the Caribbean are not anyone's backyard and called for respect for the region's autonomy.