Why Not Undertake Win-Win Cooperation in the United States' Backyard?

When China’s leaders visit Latin America, it is not to undermine the U.S. in its own backyard. China and the U.S. both have the ability and wisdom to create a winning outcome for all three sides by leveraging their respective advantages.

Recently, there have been two pieces of news concerning Latin America that have attracted international attention.

One has been President Xi Jinping’s planned trip from May 31 to June 6 to Trinidad and Tobago, Costa Rica and Mexico. The other has been U.S. Vice President Joseph Biden’s trip to Colombia, Trinidad and Tobago, and Brazil.

The media paid particular attention to the fact that Xi Jinping’s Trinidad trip will take place three days after Biden’s. Also, U.S. President Barack Obama traveled to Mexico and Costa Rica in late April to early May; shortly thereafter, in early mid-May, Vice President Li Yuanchao chose Argentina and Venezuela as the destinations for his first foreign trip in his new role.

Is the consecutive timing of these visits in Latin America and the Caribbean mere coincidence, or does it reflect Sino-U.S. competition in the region? In response to this question posed at a routine press conference on May 21, China’s foreign ministry spokesperson expressed that China maintains favorable bilateral relations with each country in Latin America, and that China and the U.S. are both entirely free to exploit their respective strengths in pursuing cooperation and playing a positive role in the development of Latin American countries.

On a related note, at the White House background briefing on May 22 for Biden’s trip, a reporter commented that Xi Jinping’s planned trip closely follows Biden’s and asked: “Is there any concern that the Chinese showing up a few days later and perhaps making a lot of announcements about new investment in the region might undercut the perception of U.S. commitment to Latin America?” A senior White House official responded that the U.S. is not in competition over any particular country in Latin America.

Latin America is the United States’ “backyard.” In the early 19th century, the U.S. pursued the Monroe Doctrine to expel European influence from the region. During the Cold War, the U.S. competed with the Soviet Union for spheres of influence in a malignant triangular relationship. In recent years, with the continuous rise of Chinese influence in Latin America, people have started to notice the emergence of a new kind of triangular relationship.

With regard to the China factor in Latin America, overall public opinion in the region has been positive and welcoming. In the U.S., some see it as a threat while some are welcoming, with prevailing sentiments being that China’s strategic intent is still unclear and that further observation of its impact on U.S. strategic interests is needed. However, one point of consensus across the American and Latin American public is that the U.S. can no longer be the sole hegemon in Latin America. China’s presence and influence in the region has given Latin America room for choice.

Sino-Latin American relations began late, but are advancing rapidly. They are based on shared interests and win-win cooperation, and have no intention of harming legitimate U.S. interests in the region. Both China and the U.S. are cognizant of the importance of improving their understanding of Latin American affairs and building mutual trust; the two countries’ foreign ministries regularly consult with one another on Latin American issues under the framework of the Strategic and Economic Dialogue. Aside from the in-depth exchange of views on the Latin American regional situation, as well as their respective relations and policies toward the region, both sides are starting to explore the question of how to pursue mutually beneficial cooperation.

When China’s leaders visit Latin America, it is not to undermine the U.S. in its own backyard. China and the U.S. both have the ability and wisdom to create a winning outcome for all three sides by leveraging their respective strengths and cooperating through bilateral and multilateral channels in Latin America.