By Travis Chase | HGP Nightly News
Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo has issued a stern rebuke to the Chargé d’Affaires of the Chinese Embassy in Guyana following remarks suggesting that Guyana should engage in negotiations with Venezuela over the ongoing border controversy.
During a press briefing, the embassy official stated that Guyana and Venezuela should pursue a bilateral resolution to the longstanding Essequibo dispute, a position Jagdeo called “improper and out of place.”
“For the Chargé to now say we have to go back to bilateral discussion is improper and out of place,” Jagdeo asserted.
Standing Firm on the ICJ Path
Jagdeo reiterated that the Guyana-Venezuela border case is already before the International Court of Justice (ICJ)—a path chosen under the 1966 Geneva Agreement and endorsed by the United Nations Secretary-General. As such, he emphasized, Guyana will not return to bilateral negotiations on a matter that is now legally adjudicated.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation had earlier reminded China that Guyana’s government remains committed to the ICJ process, and noted the conspicuous silence of the Chinese government on Venezuela’s plan to hold elections in Guyana’s Essequibo region on May 25, 2025.
“This is a clear violation of Guyana’s sovereignty and territorial integrity,” the Ministry stated.
Guyana Maintains Support for One-China Policy
Despite his disapproval of the remarks, Vice President Jagdeo made it clear that Guyana’s support for the One-China Policy remains unchanged.
“The One China Policy is the policy of the Government of Guyana, and most of the world—including the United States—and I don’t see that changing,” Jagdeo added.
This latest diplomatic tension underscores the delicate balance Guyana must maintain as it defends its sovereignty against external threats, while preserving strong bilateral relationships.
