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Chile

The latest news, analysis and opinion on Chile. In-depth analysis, industry insights and expert opinion.

Capital

Santiago

Head of State

President Gabriel Boric

Head of Government

President Gabriel Boric

Chilean President Jose Antonio Kast visits La Laguna prison in Talca on August 13, as authorities transfer high-risk inmates there as part of a crackdown on organised crime. Photo: AFP

China-Latin America relations

Chile fines Chinese mafia inmate after cocaine found at maximum-security prison

Prosecutors link the inmate to a Chinese criminal network targeted in a major police operation last year and a second raid in June.

1 Sep 2026 - 4:41AM

The Philippines

Philippines stakes claim as Latin America’s gateway to Asean

24 Aug 2026 - 4:40PMvideocam

Extreme weather

Panama Canal to reduce shipping over El Nino-fuelled drought

23 Aug 2026 - 7:11AM

China-Latin America relations

US accuses 9 Latin American countries of helping China avoid Trump’s tariffs

More than 40 countries targeted for helping Beijing illegally avoid tariffs by rerouting trade via nations with lower American import duties.

14 Aug 2026 - 7:34AMvideocam

Chinese container ship Cosco Shipping Rose docks at the Panama Canal’s Cocoli locks in Panama City. The White House has accused nine Latin American economies of helping Beijing illegally evade US tariffs by rerouting trade through countries with lower US import duties. Photo: AP

China exports

Beyond compliance: zero-carbon estates give China’s battery makers a global edge

With the EU’s binding carbon cap taking effect as early as 2028, the route to compliance for Chinese firms could offer a long-term advantage.

7 Aug 2026 - 9:42PM

China trade

Opinion | Why China’s trade partners may question value of economic integration

Both Beijing and its economic partners must ask whether expanding trade strengthens domestic productive capacity and improves long-term competitiveness.

7 Aug 2026 - 5:17PMvideocam

China-Latin America relations

Bachelet-led panel urges Latin America not to choose sides in US-China rivalry

ECLAC commission says the region should leverage critical minerals but recognises limits imposed by US security dominance.

5 Aug 2026 - 5:56AMvideocam

From left, former Colombian president Ivan Duque, former Chilean president Michelle Bachelet and ECLAC executive secretary Jose Manuel Salazar-Xirinachs present the commission’s report in Santiago. Photo: ECLAC

China-Latin America relations

Cuban spy-base allegations, new Trump tariffs: 7 Latin America relations reads

From global soybean market updates to China’s best trade partners, here are highlights from the SCMP’s foreign correspondents in July 2026.

4 Aug 2026 - 10:00PM

Venezuela

In message from US jail, Maduro weighs in on Venezuela transition talks

Ex-president calls for ‘reconciliation’ ahead of US-backed meetings between the interim government and opposition.

3 Aug 2026 - 10:23AM

China-Latin America relations

Chile’s Kast courts China day after US hits exports with forced labour tariff

Chilean president, who campaigned on aligning Chile with Trump, meets Beijing delegation as his party claims Washington cannot be trusted.

1 Aug 2026 - 9:57AMvideocam

China's ambassador to Chile, Niu Qingbao, and Chilean President Jose Antonio Kast at the La Moneda Palace in Santiago on Friday. Photo: Handout

Japan

US-led drills edge Japan and South Korea closer on defence

Command roles at Rimpac show Tokyo and Seoul can work together militarily, but history caps how far ties can go.

4 Aug 2026 - 6:40PM

A team is seen at mission control console inside a South Korean maritime patrol aircraft during a joint exercise as part of the 2026 Rimpac exercise near Honolulu. Photo: The Korea Times

US-China relations

Selection for next UN chief gets under way with Grynspan early front runner

United Nations Security Council started the process on Thursday to pick its new secretary general as successor to Antonio Guterres.

1 Aug 2026 - 3:19AMvideocam

US-China relations

What does deeper tech integration during US-led Rimpac mean for China?

Forces from 30 countries joined the US military for the world’s largest maritime drills, with uncrewed systems playing an active role.

29 Jul 2026 - 1:28PMvideocam

Hong Kong economy

Hong Kong’s TDC to open Egypt office as it eyes African, Nordic markets

Trade Development Council has revamped corporate structure to better help firms in six new industry clusters, chairman Frederick Ma says.

24 Jul 2026 - 11:11PM

A view of the Pyramids of Giza on the southwestern outskirts of the Egyptian capital Cairo. Photo: AFP

United Nations

UN leader candidates pitch visions to save world body in crisis

With a week before initial voting begins, six hopefuls make their case to replace Antonio Guterres.

24 Jul 2026 - 2:35PM

The six declared candidates vying to succeed UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres. Photo: Reuters

China-Latin America relations

Chile wants US$100 billion to break China’s grip on its copper

Chile’s foreign minister says the copper market is too concentrated, but refining more at home means competing with Chinese smelters.

23 Jul 2026 - 6:02AMvideocam

United States

USDA lowers reported beef export sales by 90% amid growing doubts over data

The original report was widely dismissed as inaccurate, amid concerns over the agency’s big staff cuts under the Trump administration.

10 Jul 2026 - 4:45AM

Venezuela

Venezuela quakes survivor shares ordeal after 8 days buried alive

Security guard recalls surviving darkness, aftershocks and walls shifting before his miraculous rescue from a collapsed building.

6 Jul 2026 - 3:40PMvideocam

Hernan Gil, who survived for nearly eight days beneath the rubble. Photo: AFP

Singapore

Asian Angle | Singapore’s trade pacts prove small states can shape global rules

While major powers employ coercion, Singapore is using flexible, legally binding templates to keep trade open.

4 Jul 2026 - 12:00PMvideocam

Americas and the Caribbean

New ghost shark species may have been found in Costa Rica

Scientists say the latest discovery has a ‘shorter’ snout, a ‘darker coloration pattern’ and a ‘much longer spine on its dorsal fin’.

4 Jul 2026 - 10:30AM

Natural disasters

‘Truly a miracle’: man rescued from Venezuela rubble 8 days after twin quakes

Multinational teams tunnel through collapsed building to extract security guard as the death toll continues to rise.

3 Jul 2026 - 4:15PMvideocam

Hernan Gil after his rescue from the rubble on Thursday. Photo: AFP

Venezuela

Why did they pancake? Building failures, soft soil amplify Venezuela quake destruction

Experts point to poor code enforcement, risky geography as factors in collapses in the wake of twin earthquakes.

30 Jun 2026 - 2:40PMvideocam

Venezuela

Venezuela earthquakes draw aid from governments that cut ties with Caracas

Argentina, Ecuador, El Salvador and other governments that suspended relations with the country offer rescue teams and humanitarian aid.

26 Jun 2026 - 8:52PMvideocam

China-India relations

Exclusive | US assures India over AI ‘kill switch’ as ‘Pax Silica’ expands to counter China

New Delhi says Washington pledged AI access would continue after Anthropic restrictions as the US-led initiative adds new members.

26 Jun 2026 - 4:20AMvideocam

Racism and other prejudice

Brazil detains Spanish woman for racism, in latest high-profile arrest

The country has some of the strictest anti-racism laws in Latin America, with penalties ranging from two to five years in prison and a fine.

25 Jun 2026 - 2:35AM

Sao Paulo International airport is seen in Guarulhos, Brazil, in May 2014. Photo: AP

China-Latin America relations

US’ Cuba-China fears, Panama pressure: Latin America relations reads

From Argentina’s shrinking China lifeline to the US’ Cuba worries, here are highlights from the SCMP’s foreign correspondents in May 2026.

3 Jun 2026 - 12:38AM

Students from military schools take part in an “anti-imperialist” protest against the American incursion in Venezuela, in front of the US Embassy in Havana in January. Photo: AFP via Getty Images/TNS

India

India seals BrahMos missile deal with Vietnam, eyes Indonesia next

A senior Indian defence ministry official made the announcement at the Shangri-La Dialogue security forum in Singapore.

31 May 2026 - 10:51AM

China-Africa relations

Will Zimbabwe’s lithium strategy help it break into the value-adding game?

Arcadia starts processing Chinese lithium in hopes of snapping the ‘digging and shipping’ cycle following Harare’s raw mineral export ban.

24 May 2026 - 3:00PMvideocam

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Chile

Chile fines Chinese mafia inmate after cocaine found at maximum-security prison

Prosecutors link the inmate to a Chinese criminal network targeted in a major police operation last year and a second raid in June.

Philippines stakes claim as Latin America’s gateway to Asean

Panama Canal to reduce shipping over El Nino-fuelled drought

US accuses 9 Latin American countries of helping China avoid Trump’s tariffs

More than 40 countries targeted for helping Beijing illegally avoid tariffs by rerouting trade via nations with lower American import duties.

Beyond compliance: zero-carbon estates give China’s battery makers a global edge

With the EU’s binding carbon cap taking effect as early as 2028, the route to compliance for Chinese firms could offer a long-term advantage.

.css-1pcrwvc{color:#2aa191;}Opinion | Why China’s trade partners may question value of economic integration

Both Beijing and its economic partners must ask whether expanding trade strengthens domestic productive capacity and improves long-term competitiveness.

Bachelet-led panel urges Latin America not to choose sides in US-China rivalry

ECLAC commission says the region should leverage critical minerals but recognises limits imposed by US security dominance.

Cuban spy-base allegations, new Trump tariffs: 7 Latin America relations reads

From global soybean market updates to China’s best trade partners, here are highlights from the SCMP’s foreign correspondents in July 2026.

In message from US jail, Maduro weighs in on Venezuela transition talks

Ex-president calls for ‘reconciliation’ ahead of US-backed meetings between the interim government and opposition.

Chile’s Kast courts China day after US hits exports with forced labour tariff

Chilean president, who campaigned on aligning Chile with Trump, meets Beijing delegation as his party claims Washington cannot be trusted.

US-led drills edge Japan and South Korea closer on defence

Command roles at Rimpac show Tokyo and Seoul can work together militarily, but history caps how far ties can go.

Selection for next UN chief gets under way with Grynspan early front runner

United Nations Security Council started the process on Thursday to pick its new secretary general as successor to Antonio Guterres.

What does deeper tech integration during US-led Rimpac mean for China?

Forces from 30 countries joined the US military for the world’s largest maritime drills, with uncrewed systems playing an active role.

Hong Kong’s TDC to open Egypt office as it eyes African, Nordic markets

Trade Development Council has revamped corporate structure to better help firms in six new industry clusters, chairman Frederick Ma says.

UN leader candidates pitch visions to save world body in crisis

With a week before initial voting begins, six hopefuls make their case to replace Antonio Guterres.

Chile wants US$100 billion to break China’s grip on its copper

Chile’s foreign minister says the copper market is too concentrated, but refining more at home means competing with Chinese smelters.

USDA lowers reported beef export sales by 90% amid growing doubts over data

The original report was widely dismissed as inaccurate, amid concerns over the agency’s big staff cuts under the Trump administration.

Venezuela quakes survivor shares ordeal after 8 days buried alive

Security guard recalls surviving darkness, aftershocks and walls shifting before his miraculous rescue from a collapsed building.

Asian Angle | Singapore’s trade pacts prove small states can shape global rules

While major powers employ coercion, Singapore is using flexible, legally binding templates to keep trade open.

New ghost shark species may have been found in Costa Rica

Scientists say the latest discovery has a ‘shorter’ snout, a ‘darker coloration pattern’ and a ‘much longer spine on its dorsal fin’.

‘Truly a miracle’: man rescued from Venezuela rubble 8 days after twin quakes

Multinational teams tunnel through collapsed building to extract security guard as the death toll continues to rise.

Why did they pancake? Building failures, soft soil amplify Venezuela quake destruction

Experts point to poor code enforcement, risky geography as factors in collapses in the wake of twin earthquakes.

Venezuela earthquakes draw aid from governments that cut ties with Caracas

Argentina, Ecuador, El Salvador and other governments that suspended relations with the country offer rescue teams and humanitarian aid.

.css-1f6sr3w{color:#727272;}Exclusive | US assures India over AI ‘kill switch’ as ‘Pax Silica’ expands to counter China

New Delhi says Washington pledged AI access would continue after Anthropic restrictions as the US-led initiative adds new members.

Brazil detains Spanish woman for racism, in latest high-profile arrest

The country has some of the strictest anti-racism laws in Latin America, with penalties ranging from two to five years in prison and a fine.

US’ Cuba-China fears, Panama pressure: Latin America relations reads

From Argentina’s shrinking China lifeline to the US’ Cuba worries, here are highlights from the SCMP’s foreign correspondents in May 2026.

India seals BrahMos missile deal with Vietnam, eyes Indonesia next

A senior Indian defence ministry official made the announcement at the Shangri-La Dialogue security forum in Singapore.

Will Zimbabwe’s lithium strategy help it break into the value-adding game?

Arcadia starts processing Chinese lithium in hopes of snapping the ‘digging and shipping’ cycle following Harare’s raw mineral export ban.

Opinion | Why China’s trade partners may question value of economic integration

Exclusive | US assures India over AI ‘kill switch’ as ‘Pax Silica’ expands to counter China