A New Look at the Chinese Relations With Latin America

Abstract

"Trade between China and the region began in 1560, when the «silk route» was established between the Chinese coast and Acapulco, by way of Manila. Despite this prolonged history, the dramatic increase in these relations occurred in the late 70s, with the economic reforms in China and the opening of its economy. Nowadays, this relationship can be analyzed in terms of different aspects: the economic –with a spectacular increase in trade–, the political –with a consolidation of the relation and a record number of visits by top-level government figures– and also the academic. On all these counts, and beyond the concern of the United States and the recognition of Taiwan by some Latin American countries- everything suggests that the relationship will become even stronger in the future."