Includes bibliographical references (page 41 to 65).
Summary
While the United States remains the largest economic and security partner in LAC, in the last decade China has rapidly deepened its economic, diplomatic, and military engagement to become the region's largest creditor and second-largest trading partner. China's efforts in the region are driven by four key objectives: (1) ensuring its access to the region's abundant natural resources and consumer markets; (2) gaining LAC support for its foreign policies; (3) shaping LAC perceptions and discourse about China; and (4) gaining geopolitical influence in a region geographically close and historically subject to U.S. influence. 2 If the infrastructure financed by Chinese loans helps LAC counties boost regional connectivity and economic growth, the positive spillovers would benefit not only the host countries, but also the region as a whole. However, closer ties with China can also reinforce the region's overreliance on highly cyclical exports and create unsustainable debt burdens for some LAC countries, which China could use for political leverage.
Note
Online resource; title from PDF cover page (USCC, viewed October 22, 2018).
