Despite Stronger Trade Ties, China's Influence in Latin America Will Remain Limited

In the coming years, China will diversify and expand trade and investment in Latin America and the Caribbean amid U.S. protectionism, but Beijing's influence will likely remain limited due to its declining financial capacity and the region's enduring ties with the West. On May 13, China hosted its fourth ministerial meeting with the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States, or CELAC. Chinese President Xi Jinping pledged to provide the region with a new 66 billion yuan ($9.18 billion) credit line to support development, in addition to new infrastructure investments and cooperation on artificial intelligence, clean energy and the digital economy. Delegates from around 30 countries attended the event, including Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, Colombian President Gustavo Petro and Chilean President Gabriel Boric, all of whom are leftist leaders. On the same trip, Petro and Xi signed an agreement for Colombia to join China's Belt and Road...