China-Latin American relations blossom despite dubious criticisms

Editor's note: Anthony Moretti, a special commentator for CGTN, is an associate professor at the Department of Communication and Organizational Leadership at Robert Morris University in the U.S. The article reflects the author's opinions and not necessarily those of either CGTN or Robert Morris University.

Americans could not be blamed if they said they knew little about China's economic relationship with Latin America. The primary reason is that the nonstop attention the mainstream media has offered to China-US relations, which for roughly a decade have been especially tense, ensures that other economic partnerships in the Americas tend to be ignored.

It would behoove the news media to offer more consistent coverage and analysis of the ever-deepening relationship between China and Latin America, which has blossomed since China entered the World Trade Organization. However, any investigation into this bilateral relationship needs to kick to curb strident narratives that automatically insist Beijing's aims are nefarious. Clear-eyed analysis is necessary going forward.

At the risk of oversimplification, China has a deep-seated and strong presence in the region, a reality brought on by their win-win cooperation that has brought significant benefits for both sides.

Although there are others, one item offers an important indicator of the expanding association: 22 Latin American and Caribbean countries have signed a Memorandum of Understanding opening the door for them to join the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) with China.

As a brief reminder, the BRI was launched more than a decade ago with the intent to build economic bridges between China and the world. The Global South, which consists of roughly two out of every three countries across the globe, includes approximately 85 percent of the world's population, makes up almost 40 percent of global GDP and has been a primary beneficiary of the BRI. Obviously, Latin America is included in the conversation of Global South countries.

China's trade with Latin America has already reached roughly $500 billion yearly, with Brazil, Chile and Peru being a few of the region's countries with the highest trade with China. Speaking of Peru, the full operation of the Chancay Port is sure to increase those dollar figures. Another indicator of the potential for Chancay came just a few days ago when Brazil began conversations with China about building a railway that would allow for faster and more secure connections between Chancay and South America's largest nation and guarantee that Brazil's exports to China arrive more quickly than ever before.

In other words, China and Latin America see benefits, not only economic ones, in their partnership, noting that this year marks the 10th anniversary of the establishment of the China-CELAC (Community of Latin American and Caribbean States) Forum. This annual event recognizes the important work undertaken to build cultural and people-to-people exchanges, enhance global governance and sustain political trust.

Amid the sunny skies and calm seas that offer a metaphor for the China-Latin America bilateral relations, there are storm clouds on the horizon, although it is too soon to predict what their full impact will be. The current US administration continues to endorse tariffs and similar sanctions to limit free trade. Yes, it pulled back on many of the highest tariffs, most notably not doing so with China, but there is recognition throughout the Americas that this administration will continue to use tariffs as a hammer to force countries into trade deals that could be especially good to the US.

Ironically, establishing trade deals that could end up being one-sided in China's favor is one of the criticisms often heard about China's relationship with Latin America. Critics inside and outside government maintain that China is using its economic supremacy to create dangerous so-called debt traps that could require regional states to renegotiate deals that are sure to benefit China eventually. Granted, the do-this-today-then-that-tomorrow strategy that has defined the roughly four months since Donald Trump returned to the White House means that it is difficult for media and other analysts to figure out precisely what the administration wants to do; nevertheless, there are not enough questions being asked about just how "fair" the desired trade deals Washington is demanding will actually be.

In addition to the debt-trap warnings, critics contend that China plays up its commitment to steward the environment but does not often display it. A recent Boston University report offered a sage reminder: "China should not be blamed for the bulk of Latin America's environmental and social problems." The report added that all governments should always prioritize being environmental champions.

Viewed another way, much like Pavlov's dogs, which became accustomed to the sound of a bell to indicate they were about to be fed, certain audiences have been trained to automatically draw negative connections between China and Latin America (and this is true for other parts of the world as well). Lost in this association is the opportunity to critically assess whether the claims made about certain countries stand up to scrutiny.

Too often, they do not.

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