Latin American Views of Chinese and U.S. Policy
Latin American Views of Chinese and U.S. Policy
China’s growing presence in Latin America and the Caribbean since the early 2000s has been conspicuous not so much for its real impact as for its perceived influence and implications for the future of the continent. And while memories of the Spanish conquest and British domination have faded into the fog of the distant past, the presence of the United States is still very much felt in the region. As a result, there is a tangible sense of competition between the “rising power” and the “Northern hegemon.” The present chapter outlines both United States and Chinese policy against the historical background of their relations with the region, and offers an insight into Latin American views toward those two great powers: views at the government and elite level and views at the public level. It becomes evident that the U.S., despite a low level of attention paid to the countries of Latin America throughout the first decade of the twenty-first century, has retained an advantage over China thanks to a historically grounded affinity, enhanced by cultural and geographical proximity. The People’s Republic of China by contrast, despite its important overtures to individual nations and groups of nations, has not yet succeeded in translating its strategic interests and desire to be a catalyst for change into a consistent agency in the region.
Keywords: Latin America, China/ the People’s Republic of China, Great powers
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