At the China and the Americas Conference in Buenos Aires, Steve Yates of The Heritage Foundation delivered a powerful speech outlining the grave threat posed by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) to the United States, Latin America, and the world. His message was clear: the CCP is not just an economic competitor or a geopolitical rival—it is the greatest external threat to freedom and prosperity.
China: The True Enemy of the Free World
Yates underscored how previous U.S. administrations naively believed that integrating China into the global economy would lead to its political liberalization. Instead, the opposite happened: China exploited this openness, consolidating power and using economic leverage to spread its authoritarian model.
One of the key takeaways from his speech was that China’s rise was not due to brilliant policies by the CCP but rather the strategic failures of Western governments. Overconcentration of manufacturing and investment in China left the U.S. and other nations dangerously dependent on an untrustworthy regime.
The COVID Cover-Up & The CCP’s Lies
Yates pointed to the COVID-19 pandemic as one of the most glaring examples of China’s deception and irresponsibility. He stressed that the CCP lied about the virus’s origins, concealed critical information, and manipulated the global response, resulting in millions of deaths and trillions of dollars in economic losses.
Despite this, international institutions like the World Health Organization (WHO) failed to hold China accountable. This failure, according to Yates, demonstrates the dysfunction of the so-called “rules-based international order.”
Fentanyl: The Silent War Against America
Perhaps the most emotional moment in Yates’ speech came when he personally recounted the near-death experience of his daughter, who unknowingly consumed fentanyl-laced drugs. He emphasized that China is the primary supplier of the precursor chemicals used to manufacture illicit fentanyl, which has killed over 400,000 Americans during Biden’s presidency alone.
The CCP’s response? Blaming America for its own crisis and warning that any attempt to link fentanyl to trade negotiations would be seen as an act of hostility.
“This is not a responsible stakeholder. This is not a good neighbor,” Yates declared, calling for urgent action to cut off China’s role in the global drug trade.
Global Institutions Have Failed—New Alliances Are Needed
Yates argued that international institutions like the United Nations, WHO, and World Trade Organization (WTO) have failed to protect global security and economic stability.
- The UN Security Council, instead of defending Ukraine, allowed Russia to chair an emergency meeting after its own invasion.
- The WTO has done nothing to stop China’s predatory trade practices and economic coercion.
- The WHO helped China cover up one of the worst global health crises in history
Faced with these realities, Yates called for “coalitions of the willing”—nations committed to freedom and sovereignty—to counter the CCP’s influence and defend fundamental human values.
The Americas Must Wake Up
Yates concluded by emphasizing the need for “revival at home” in the United States and across the Americas. Strengthening internal institutions, rebuilding supply chains, and reinforcing strategic alliances are critical to countering China’s growing influence in the Western Hemisphere.
His speech at the China and the Americas Conference was a wake-up call for leaders in Latin America, many of whom have welcomed China’s investments without realizing the long-term consequences.
Final Thought
Steve Yates’ address left no doubt: The Chinese Communist Party is the enemy of humanity. Its economic warfare, deception, and role in the fentanyl crisis prove that it cannot be trusted as a global partner.
The choice is clear—nations must stand together against China’s malign influence, or risk being dominated by an authoritarian superpower that has no regard for freedom, democracy, or human life.
