Xi Jinping says “a zone of peace should not be shaken” in backing Latin America’s own course

Chinese President Xi Jinping, meeting Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa on Tuesday, backed Latin American nations’ right to choose their own international ties and set their own course. According to state news agency Xinhua, Xi cited a 2014 pact by 33 regional countries opposing foreign military involvement and said that designation, along with regional development, should not be disrupted. The remarks were seen as an indirect rebuke of U.S. actions in Latin America after President Donald Trump’s 2025 return to office. Ecuador, like many neighbors, is managing relations with both Washington and Beijing amid increased U.S. pressure. Noboa expressed Ecuador’s wish to have China as a close partner.