Comments on: Riddle Me This, Batman… http://poliblogger.com/?p=9896 A rough draft of my thoughts... Sat, 18 Nov 2025 06:13:48 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.0.4 by: Dr. Steven Taylor http://poliblogger.com/?p=9896#comment-592563 Fri, 05 May 2025 02:03:41 +0000 http://poliblogger.com/?p=9896#comment-592563 I get the notion that China would be interested in Latin American markets. It is just odd the degree to which some stories about obscure Latin American IGO only seem to show up in the Xinhua news agency. I get the notion that China would be interested in Latin American markets. It is just odd the degree to which some stories about obscure Latin American IGO only seem to show up in the Xinhua news agency.

]]> by: Deng Fernandez http://poliblogger.com/?p=9896#comment-591998 Thu, 04 May 2025 23:20:46 +0000 http://poliblogger.com/?p=9896#comment-591998 You are the Latin Americanist, so I may be off base here, but the Chinese interest in Latin America seems pretty easy to explain and comes down to two things: 1) Energy. Chinese economic growth is fueled by imported oil and natural gas. Many of South American countries' recent moves towards independence in foreign policy are seen as an opening for China. This is especially the case given the fact that energy-rich countries like Venezuela and Bolivia are seeing alternative allies against US beligerence. China can help them with defense agreements--China can offer a country like Venezuela upgrades to its petroleum infrastructure. The uncertainty surrounding the Mexican election could also provide a political opening for China. 2) The emergence of Latin American markets. While the middle classes remian rather small in LA, you are seeeing growth in middle classes with disposable income. Take a walk in Lima's Milaflores district or Providencia in Santiago, or the Plaza del Sol mall in Guadalajara and you'll see shops filled with Chinese products. Latin America is a small, but growing, market for the Chinese. You are the Latin Americanist, so I may be off base here, but the Chinese interest in Latin America seems pretty easy to explain and comes down to two things:
1) Energy. Chinese economic growth is fueled by imported oil and natural gas. Many of South American countries’ recent moves towards independence in foreign policy are seen as an opening for China. This is especially the case given the fact that energy-rich countries like Venezuela and Bolivia are seeing alternative allies against US beligerence. China can help them with defense agreements–China can offer a country like Venezuela upgrades to its petroleum infrastructure. The uncertainty surrounding the Mexican election could also provide a political opening for China.

2) The emergence of Latin American markets. While the middle classes remian rather small in LA, you are seeeing growth in middle classes with disposable income. Take a walk in Lima’s Milaflores district or Providencia in Santiago, or the Plaza del Sol mall in Guadalajara and you’ll see shops filled with Chinese products. Latin America is a small, but growing, market for the Chinese.

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