China says it won’t give an inch to the US in Latin America

China intends to keep playing and growing its influence in the US’ backyard of Latin America. The Trump administration took veiled swipes at China in its national security strategy with a vow to “restore American pre-eminence in the Western Hemisphere.”

China released a new white paper on its relationship with Latin America and the Caribbean a few weeks ago. The document is self-confident, albeit diplomatic, in tone, detailing China’s commitment to continuing the broadening and deepening of its relationship with Latin America and the Caribbean on all fronts.

It highlighted China’s expanding activities with the region not only in commerce and investment, but also in science, technology, and people-to-people exchanges; national, subnational, and multilateral political engagement; and growing engagement in strategic sectors including military, police, space, digital technologies and artificial intelligence.  

The timing was notable: the document was released just days after the new US National Security Strategy, which focused heavily on pushing back against China’s influence and encroachment in security and other strategic sectors in the Western Hemisphere. 

Nonetheless, China’s white paper made no direct references to the United States as part of the hemisphere, or increasing US resistance to China’s advances. It featured only indirect references, such as a comment in the opening about “unilateral bullying” in the region, Latin America’s “glorious tradition of independence,” and China’s willingness to coordinate with “third parties” in its relationship.

China seems to be trying to have a truly global network of influence on other countries. Rather than just battle the US for influence and power in their East Asian neighborhood, China appears to be trying to gain strategic allies in the US’ neighborhood, just as the US has allies in China’s neighborhood.

Whether or not China is able to have long term influence in Latin America remains to be seen, but it this should serve as a reminder to the US that China intends to be challenge US dominance everywhere on the world stage.