https://www.cfr.org/backgrounder/china-influence-latin-america-argentina-brazil-venezuela-security-energy-bri
China since has been increasing its influence in Latin American Countries since 2000, China has invested in infrastructure, space industries, and energy. By investing more and more money China threatens to take The US’s hold over the region, US President Joe Biden has been seeking ways to counter China’s continued growth in the region. History of Chinese trade in Latin America was relatively sparse until in 2001 when China joined the World Trade Organization, they started forming strong cultural, political, and economic ties to Latin America after this point. Peru, Brazil, Cuba, Paraguay, and Venezuela now all have substantial Chinese communities in their country. China tends to have the best trade relations with countries that have high Chinese populations like Peru and Brazil. During Covid China sold Vaccines and medical supplies to Latin America for an incredible profit. China is investing in South America for a variety of reasons, China seeks to create Soft Power in South America, and to further isolate States like Taiwan. Many South American Countries now recognize Taiwan as being a part of China.
China investing in Latin America is very much a way to prove that they are becoming more of a global superpower. China has been recognized for a long time as the regional power of East Asia. It is only recently in the last 20 or so years that China has reached into other parts of the world. In a previous article I wrote about how China is investing more heavily into African Countries, it appears that they are doing the same thing in Latin America. Similar to when the USSR and US were fighting for control of countries in central america to further their global power. China is likely doing this so they can have enough international support to conquer countries like Taiwan and Hong Kong.
In class we have discussed the Security Dilemma, the Dilemma being that as other states become more secure one’s own state would feel the need to become more secure itself. As China progressively becomes more of a world power it makes sense that China would try to match the US’s own Security. The US has one of the best geological spots in the world. Comparatively China has a much worse position. By investing in Latin America China is encouraging countries to stop recognizing Taiwan, once Taiwan has little global recognition China would be able to more safely conquer it and remove the Western influence that has come from it.