China’s ‘unstoppable’ Latin America outreach gains ground as US uncertainty bites
Beijing’s all carrot, no stick ‘strategic imperative’ drawing US’ southern neighbours closer, experts say
China’s high-profile outreach to Latin America underscores Beijing’s expanding strategic emphasis on the region, according to Chinese observers, one of whom said solid China-Latin America ties would be “unstoppable” if the United States continued its current approach toward its southern neighbours.
With key Celac leaders floating megaproject proposals during the event, another Chinese observer noted that infrastructure was likely to remain a key sector of engagement for Beijing, playing a crucial role in countering US influence in the region.
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China’s Xi Jinping urges countries to ‘stand united’ in face of global trade war
In his keynote address, President Xi Jinping pitched China as “a good friend and partner” of Latin American and Caribbean nations, while offering a US$9.2 billion credit line to support development.
He said Beijing was ready to work with the 33-member regional bloc to boost development and promote a multipolar world in the face of “bullying” and “unilateralism”, a thinly veiled swipe at the White House.