China offers military aid to Jamaica’s defence force

(CNS): The Chinese government is providing $1.1 million in military aid to the Jamaica Defence Force under an agreement signed in Kingston on Monday by Chief of Defence Staff Major General Antony Anderson and Major General Jia Xiaoning, the deputy chief of China’s Foreign Affairs Office. According to the Jamaican Information Service Jamaican officials said the agreement represents one of the most significant military aid packages to Jamaica. “What it will do is to provide logistic support to us and this will enhance our capabilities by providing more resources that we can apply to everything we do,” Anderson said in the wake of signing the deal.

Officials said the two sides haven’t yet decided how the money will be spent but members of the People’s Liberation Army and Jamaican officials are expected to discuss the matter over the next few months.

“How to utilise this amount is an issue which we will address later, and if we reach consensus on the utilisation of this amount, we will sign another protocol to put in practice this agreement,” Jia Xiaoning said.

The deal follows a major investment by China into Jamaica’s sugar industry that was finalized last week. China is also spending funds on road construction on the island, along with rebelling infrastructure and a national convention centre in western Jamaica.