Michael G. Kozak: “The Nicaraguan people deserve a government that respects their vote and respects human rights.”

They are for human rights; they are for democracy; they are for free-market competition. And China is the antithesis of all of those things.

We almost became prisoners of the Chinese Communist Party in our own country.

They should do that and abide by the result. If they do not, we are making clear that there are going to be some serious consequences in their relationships throughout the region.

But for those who seek to maintain the status quo, we will not let them use our assistance as a facade for their lack of political will to make real reform.