China–Latin America relations

Between 2000 and 2009, trade between China and Latin America increased by 1,200% from $10 to $130 billion. According to the Chinese Trade Ministry Counselor Yu Zhong, in 2011 the value of trade increased to $241.5 billion, making China the second largest trading partner of Latin America (the United States is the largest). The top five nations in this China-Latin trade were Brazil, Mexico, Chile, Venezuela and Argentina. In 2009 7% of Latin America's exports was to China. It consisted largely of raw material and commodities such as copper, iron ore, oil, and soybeans. China was the largest export market for Brazil, Chile, and Peru and the second largest for Argentina, Costa Rica, and Cuba. Four nations contributed 90% of the exports: Brazil (41%), Chile (23.1%), Argentina (15.9%), and Peru (9.3%). Increased Chinese demand has also been argued to increase the commodity prices of Latin American exports. On the other hand, a large part of the exports of Costa Rica (which has a Free Trade Agreement with China), El Salvador, and Mexico to China were high-tech manufactured goods. 5% of China's exports went to Latin America in 2009 and consisted mainly of industrial and manufactured goods. Chinese goods are popular in part due to their low costs. Chinese manufacturers are also making substantial efforts to establish themselves as brand names for the new middle class. According to a 2012 Fitch ratings report, in 2010, 92% of Latin American exports to China were commodities; 85% of Chinese foreign direct investment went to extractive industries, as did 60% of Chinese loans. The report stated that the effects are mixed. Still, overall, Latin America has benefited from its relationship with China through higher commodity prices, increased growth, increased investment, and improved governmental finances. There are also concerns of environmental impacts related to the huge increase in extractive industries and agriculture by Chinese companies in Latin America, including pollution, deforestation, habitat destruction and rising fossil-fuel emissions. There have been concerns regarding the relationship due to Latin America’s dependency on exports of low-value-added, highly price-volatile commodities that employ relatively few people. Latin American manufacturers have faced increasing competition from China in both domestic and international markets. In some countries, there have been protests against the rising inflow of Chinese-manufactured goods, local Chinese businesses, and perceived loss of manufacturing jobs to China. Several experts have even argued that the long-term outlooks for Latin American manufacturing are poor, and other sources for growth and trade, such as services, should be sought. These include the Nicaragua Canal. == Political ==

China has been seen as an alternative to the United States and Europe by Latin American nations for support in the international community, for funding of infrastructure and humanitarian aid, and for creating economic growth. The number of high-level meetings between Chinese and Latin American officials have rapidly increased. These have been accompanied by several bilateral agreements. Many of the nations that continue to have official diplomatic relations with Taiwan are in Central America and the Caribbean. Taiwan has previously offered military exchanges and training as well as economic aid in return but has more recently had difficulty competing with China's economic incentives and in 2008 officially abandoned this "checkbook diplomacy". The remaining pro-Taiwan nations have been seen as waiting for better Chinese offers. On January 8, 2015, the 1st China-CELAC Forum opened at the Great Hall of the People in China. In January 2019, numerous countries including the US recognized the legitimacy of opposition leader Juan Guaido as President of Venezuela. The PRC issued an official statement condemning American intervention in the internal affairs of Venezuela, supporting President Nicolás Maduro in the struggle for the Venezuelan presidency. On 3 January 2026, the United States carried out several strikes in Venezuela and detained and abducted President Maduro. China condemned the operation and called for Maduro's release. The strikes came a day after Maduro received a Chinese delegation on 2 January which included Special Representative of the Chinese Government on Latin American Affairs, Qiu Xiaoqi. == Military ==

Military relationships have been mainly through military-to-military contacts. In particular Venezuela, Chile, Bolivia, and Cuba have had frequent official military visits, exchange of military officers, and navy port calls. South American countries such as Venezuela, Bolivia, Ecuador, Peru and Argentina are buying Chinese weapons. Chile, Ecuador and Peru were visited by a Chinese flotilla in 2009. While the government of President Mauricio Macri, elected in December 2015, soon dropped the arms purchases from China. that also authorizes construction of satellite tracking facility near Las Lajas, Neuquén; base is managed by People's Liberation Army Strategic Support Force. Per Argentine ambassador to China, Diego Guelar, China has agreed to use the base only for civilian purposes. China operates two satellite tracking stations in Venezuela. Chinese state-owned China Great Wall Industry Corporation built the El Sombrero satellite tracking station at the Captain Manuel Ríos Aerospace Base and another at Luepa, Bolívar. In 1982, with Pinochet's Chile allowed, China built a Great Wall research station in the Antarctic inside Chile's territorial claims. == Space ==

China has launched communication satellites (from launch sites in China) for Venezuela, Bolivia, Ecuador, Brazil, and Argentina. == Regional organizations ==

In 2004 China joined the Organization of American States as a permanent observer. In 2008 China joined the Inter-American Development Bank as a donor. China has also increased its relationships with CELAC, the Andean Community, PARLACEN, and the Caribbean Community. == Cultural ==

The PRC actively seeks cultural exchanges with Latin America and CCTV-4 America has extensive Spanish language programming. ==Relations with Latin American countries==

;Relations between China and Latin America Note: Different political entities have controlled mainland China: the Empire of China from 221 BC to 12 February 1912, the Republic of China from 12 February 1912 to 7 December 1949, and the People's Republic of China from 7 December 1949 to present. Since 1949, there has been a dispute between the People's Republic of China (PRC), controlling mainland China, and the Republic of China (ROC), controlling Taiwan, over which government represents China. China was represented in the United Nations by the Republic of China (ROC) from 24 October 1945 to 25 October 1971 and is currently represented by the People's Republic of China (PRC) since 25 October 1971. This list covers diplomatic relations by Latin American countries with China under its different political representations. == See also ==