Letters | China’s Latin America policy paper speaks language of multipolarity
Readers discuss why Beijing’s outreach to the region should not be seen as a challenge to Washington, the HK$2 subsidised transport fare for the elderly, and Hong Kong’s New Year countdown
At the heart of China’s approach is a reframing of Latin America as a core pillar of the Global South. This is not a rhetorical charity. It is an acknowledgement of shared historical experiences: colonial extraction, uneven development and limited voice in global decision-making. By speaking the language of sovereignty, non-interference and multipolarity, China aligns itself with long-standing regional aspirations rather than imposing an external ideological template.
Unlike the Cold War-era competition, Beijing avoids exporting doctrine. There are no loyalty tests, no regime preferences, no demands for political conversion. China’s diplomacy is deliberately post-ideological. It engages governments across the spectrum, prioritising institutional continuity over partisan alignment. In a region marked by electoral volatility, this pragmatism matters.
Economically, Chinese infrastructure projects – from ports to rail corridors – address gaps that Western financing has often been unwilling or unable to fill. More quietly, China is supporting financial diversification through local-currency trade, swap agreements and expanded credit facilities. After years of watching sanctions weaponise global finance, many Latin American states see diversification as prudence, not defiance.
Security cooperation remains cautious and limited. Under the Global Security Initiative, China emphasises disaster relief, peacekeeping, training and counterterrorism – areas that complement rather than replace existing arrangements.