ST JOHN’S, Antigua, CMC – Prime Minister Gaston Browne has defended the decision of Caribbean countries to have diplomatic relations with China, dismissing suggestions that they should “rebalance” their relations between the United States and China.
“There are some who argue erroneously that countries in the Caribbean that support China need to rebalance. But I ask, what is there to rebalance?” Browne said as he spoke at a ceremony marking the 76th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China (PRC).
Browne said that while the United States is “the most important country” to the Caribbean in terms of tourism and trade, Beijing has been providing longstanding support through grants, concessional loans, and infrastructure projects.
“The United States is our largest source market for visitors and goods, and it plays an indispensable role in our development. At the same time, China has been a benevolent partner, assisting us with critical projects in housing, education, and port development. There is no conflict here, both relationships serve our national interests,” Prime Minister Browne added.
He told the ceremony that Antigua and Barbuda will ot allow external powers to dictate its foreign policy, reiterating that St. John’s upholds the principle of sovereignty.
“When we allied recently with the United States on the (sale of the luxury yacht) Alfa Nero matter, we did so because we believed it was in our national interest. China did not interfere, nor has it ever interfered, in our relations with the United States. That’s what mutual respect looks like,” he said.
Browne said that China has consistently treated Antigua and Barbuda as an equal partner despite the vast disparity in size and population, citing his discussions with President Xi Jinping last year.
“China, a country of 1.4 billion people, sits with us, a nation of 100,000, at the same table,” he said, adding, “that respect is not only meaningful, it is a model of how global relations should work.
“What I saw in China was not just infrastructure, but the result of vision, resilience, and a people determined to chart their own future. It’s a model that inspires nations like ours,” he said, highlighting Beijing’s support for projects that directly impact the lives of people here.
He told the ceremony that one of the most significant of these projects is the Booby Alley Housing Redevelopment, which the Chinese government fully underwrites.
“This project is not just about concrete and steel. It is about lifting people out of poverty, restoring pride in a historic neighbourhood and proving that no community is forgotten,” he said, describing the redevelopment as “a project that touches the lives of our most vulnerable citizens”.
Browne said China had also provided support for projects such as the University of the West Indies Five Islands Campus, which he called “a gateway to higher education for our young people,” the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium, as well as investments in ports and airports, strengthening Antigua & Barbuda’s potential as a transhipment and tourism hub in the Caribbean.
“These are not token projects. They are pillars of our nation’s growth and symbols of what genuine partnership can achieve.”
China’s Ambassador to Antigua and Barbuda, Zhang Yanling, hailed her country’s journey from hardship to global leadership, emphasising the dramatic transformation China has achieved through unity, discipline, and a focus on national development.
“What happened 76 years ago marked the beginning of a new era, one where the destiny of China was placed firmly in the hands of the Chinese people,” the Chinese diplomat said, pointing to significant accomplishments in education, healthcare, elderly care, and poverty reduction.
She said that life expectancy in China has more than doubled since 1949 and acknowledged the continued support of Antigua & Barbuda as a valued partner that shares her country’s principles of sovereignty, non-interference, and mutual respect.
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