China’s growing engagement with Latin America and the Caribbean (the Western Hemisphere)
lacks the deep historical ties of its relations with Southeast Asia and legacy of its Cold War
friendships in Africa. China’s growing interest in the region appears to be principally linked to its
objective of gaining broader access to natural resources and agricultural commodities, such as oil,
ores, and soybeans. Beijing also aims to fully
isolate Taiwan — 12 Latin American and Caribbean
nations still maintain diplomatic relations with Taiwan — and bolster China’s diplomatic
presence in the region. China’s recent aid to Costa Rica reportedly was directly linked to the
Central American country’s establishment of diplomatic relations with the PRC (and termination
of relations with Taiwan) in 2007. Other goals include opening up alternative markets and
opportunities for Chinese goods and investment. According to many analysts, however, Beijing
acknowledges that the United States remains the dominant economic and political influence in the
Western Hemisphere.
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