Posted on 08/10/2023 5:31:28 AM PDT by Red Badger
Note the last bit there about assassinations in the port city of Manta, a drug trafficking hub/ hotspot.
More info on Manga from 2007:
China poised to take over U.S. base at Ecuador’s invitation
World Tribune ^ | December 7, 2007
Posted on 12/9/2007, 10:05:00 AM by sukhoi-30mki
China poised to take over U.S. base at Ecuador’s invitation
Ecuador’s president has offered the Chinese government an airbase currently serving as one of the last U.S. military outposts in South America.
Ecuadorian President Rafael Correa said during his recent visit to China that he would offer Beijing a lease on the Manta Airport, the presidential website reported last week.
Currently, Manta is used by U.S. military forces for operations. The contract is up in 2009 and Correa will not renew it, a transport and public works ministry communications official told BNamericas.
Correa said access to the air base is part of a plan for Manta to become a “doorway” for China’s entry to Latin America. Air base operations are limited to one building, but it shares the runway with the city’s Eloy Alfaro international airport terminal.
Terminales del Ecuador, a subsidiary of Hong Kong-based Hutchison Port Holdings, is already operating Manta’s port. Government officials have already spoken of additional Chinese investment for such projects as a rail system. Hutchison has close ties to communist leaders in Beijing and also operates ports at both ends of the Panama Canal.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.