By Zoila Palma: In December 2025, China released a policy paper for Latin America and the Caribbean outlining a sweeping diplomatic, economic and cultural agenda aimed at strengthening ties with the region amid shifting global power dynamics.
China reportedly promised no-strings-attached aid to Latin American and Caribbean countries as it positions itself as a key voice of the Global South and seeks to expand its influence in a region also actively courted by the United States.
China’s Belt and Road (B&R) programme is reshaping Latin America’s economic landscape through vast infrastructure investments, exemplified by Peru’s $3.6bn Chancay mega-port opened in late 2024, World Finance reports.
Although Peru hosts the port, China gains most: shipping times to Asia are cut by two weeks, Chinese state-owned vessels move manufactured goods into the region more quickly, and raw materials flow back to China’s factories.
Initially focused on roads, railways, dams and ports, China’s investments are now expanding into energy and high-tech infrastructure.
PowerChina has invested across at least 11 countries and gained near control of Peru’s electricity distribution, while Chinese firms operate major solar and wind projects in Argentina and Chile.
Huawei has embedded itself in digital infrastructure, including AI, smart cities and 5G, running over half of Curitiba’s internet connections by 2020.
Even without formally joining B&R, Brazil has become China’s largest regional trading partner and, like many neighbours, has welcomed Chinese capital into energy, logistics and ports, reflecting a broader regional hunger for foreign investment.
China’s reach extends deeply into strategic sectors and politically sensitive environments.
It is heavily involved in mining, hydropower and copper in Peru, currency swaps and space-tracking facilities in Argentina, oil-backed debt in Venezuela, and the critical lithium triangle spanning Chile, Argentina and Bolivia. Critics argue these arrangements export raw materials cheaply and give Beijing excessive control, a concern heightened by China’s preference for state-to-state deals that work smoothly in authoritarian or highly centralised systems.
As trade between China and Latin America reached $518bn in 2024, the region increasingly sells low-value commodities while importing high-value Chinese technology, leaving it on the weaker end of the supply chain.
Meanwhile, the United States has largely ceded ground.
Few US firms bid for major infrastructure projects, and high-level political engagement has been limited, even as security officials warn of China’s growing leverage.
Think tanks and military leaders point to risks posed by China’s global network of Cosco-operated ports, including Chancay, while failed or troubled B&R projects elsewhere highlight issues of debt, environmental damage and incomplete construction.
The post International News: China’s Belt and Road push deepens grip on Latin America appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.
By Zoila Palma: In December 2025, China released a policy paper for Latin America and the Caribbean outlining a sweeping diplomatic, economic and cultural agenda aimed at strengthening ties with the region amid shifting global power dynamics. China reportedly promised no-strings-attached aid to Latin American and Caribbean countries as it positions itself as a key
The post International News: China’s Belt and Road push deepens grip on Latin America appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.
