China's Growing Interest in Latin America (CRS Report for Congress)
| Release Date |
April 20, 2005 |
| Report Number |
RS22119 |
| Report Type |
Report |
| Authors |
Kerry Dumbaugh and Mark P. Sullivan, Foreign Affairs, Defense, and Trade Division |
| Source Agency |
Congressional Research Service |
Summary:
Over the past year, increasing attention has focused on China's growing interest in Latin
America.
Most analysts appear to agree that China's primary interest in the region is to gain greater
access to
needed resources -- such as oil, copper, and iron -- through increased trade and investment. Some
also believe Beijing's additional goal is to isolate Taiwan by luring the 12 Latin American
and
Caribbean nations still maintaining diplomatic relations with Taiwan to shift their diplomatic
recognition to China. Some analysts maintain that China's involvement in the region could
pose a
future threat to U.S. influence. Others assert that China's inroads in Latin America are
marginal and
likely to remain overwhelmed by the economic and geographic advantage of the U.S. market.
Although many Latin American countries welcome the new Chinese investment, some view China
as an economic threat, and are concerned that both their domestic industries and their U.S. export
markets will be overwhelmed by cheap Chinese imports. This report will not be updated. For further
information, see CRS Report RL32804 , China-U.S. Relations: Current Issues and Implications
for
U.S. Policy.
