On December 10, China released a new white paper on its relationship with Latin America and the Caribbean. The latest version, following China-Latin America white papers in 2008 and 2016, maintained the established interval of eight or nine years between updates.  

The document is self-confident, albeit diplomatic, in tone, detailing China’s commitment to continuing the broadening and deepening of its relationship with Latin America and the Caribbean on all fronts.It highlighted China’s expanding activities with the region not only in commerce and investment, but also in science, technology, and people-to-people exchanges; national, subnational, and multilateral political engagement; and growing engagement in strategic sectors including military, police, space, digital technologies and artificial intelligence.  

The timing was notable: the document was released just days after the new U.S. National Security Strategy, which focused heavily on pushing back against China’s influence and encroachment in security and other strategic sectors in the Western Hemisphere. Nonetheless, China’s white paper made no direct references to the United States as part of the hemisphere, or increasing U.S. resistance to China’s advances. It featured only indirect references, such as a comment in the opening about “unilateral bullying” in the region, Latin America’s “glorious tradition of independence,” and China’s willingness to coordinate with “third parties” in its relationship.

The document was predictably broader and more detailed than the 2016 white paper. The 2025 version covered an expanded list of areas of cooperation, forums and other engagement mechanisms, and technical issues, from free trade agreements to investment protection and dual taxation to customs inspection and quarantine. The new scope reflects the growth and maturation of the relationship in the nine years since the last white paper was written.

In its key areas, the document followed the format adopted in the China-CELAC 2025-2027 plan, organizing itself around five “programs” of cooperation: “Solidarity,” “Development,” “Civilization,” “Peace,” and “People-to-People Connectivity.”  In parallel, the white paper reaffirmed Latin America’s role in each of its five “initiatives” organizing its global engagement: the Global Governance Initiative (GGI), Global Development Initiative (GDI), Global Civilization Initiative (GCI), Global Security Initiative (GSI), and “Belt and Road........

© The Diplomat