Beyond Raw Materials. Who Are the Actors in the Latin America and Caribbean- China Relationship?
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The Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung (FES) The Academic Network of Latin was founded in 1925 and is the oldest America and the Caribbean on China political foundation in Germany. It is (RED ALC-CHINA) maintains a a private, non-profit organization No one would have predicted in the 1990s dialogue between countries and and subscribes to the ideas of Social that China would emerge as a fundamental player sectors about the LAC-China Democracy. The foundation takes Beyond Raw Materials relationship based on existing its name from the first democratically in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) academic achievements that may elected German President, Friedrich allow the development of future in the 21st century. The LAC-China relationship Ebert, and picks up on his legacy Who are the Actors in the Latin America research. RED ALC-CHINA is of giving political expression to has recently advanced toward a second stage, directed to researchers, academics, freedom, solidarity and social justice. international institution as evidenced by the rapid expansion in the number and Caribbean-China Relationship? representatives, enterprises, NGOs, The Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung’s of researchers and students working on various public officers, graduates, postgrad International Development students, undergraduates Cooperation Department fosters aspects of China-LAC relations, increasing cultural and the public in general. With over 200 institutional and individual sustainable development and exchange, growing immigration from China to LAC, democracy in Latin America, Asia, Africa Enrique Dussel Peters members, the network’s goal is to and the Middle East. In conjunction a boom in tourism, and the launching of new socialize results and proposals with its partners, important players Ariel C. Armony in the region. Publications active in the social policy field in more mechanisms for cross-regional dialogue. and activities can be accessed at: (coord.) than 100 countries, it helps to guide This book focuses on the actors in the relationship, <www.redalc-china.org>. future developments by: - consolidating democratic structures, both in LAC and in China. This analysis goes The University of Pittsburgh’s involving all social groups beyond established knowledge of the LAC-China Center for Latin American Studies as much as possible, (CLAS) has become internationally - promoting reform processes and relationship—particularly trade, in which LAC recognized for excellence in mechanisms to manage conflicting has become a major source of raw materials for China— undergraduate, graduate, research, interests peacefully and professional education and - working with partners to devise to look at characteristics and features of eyond Raw Materials outreach. CLAS is designated as a B global strategies for the future. comprehensive National Resource the important actors in the bilateral relationship. Center (NRC) on Latin America The two key goals of the FES in Latin by the US Department of Education. America and the Caribbean are Over 100 University of Pittsburgh overcoming democratic deficits and faculty members are associated establishing a partnership between with CLAS. Each academic year they Europe and Latin America. teach well over 250 courses on the The FES is represented through region in more than 20 departments 18 offices in Latin America and the and actively pursue on-going Caribbean and develops the regional research projects in a wide range projects Nueva Sociedad, of disciplines, including the social Regional Trade Union Project, sciences, professional schools, Socio-Ecological Transformation, humanities, and natural sciences. and FES Regional Advisory Project More detailed information on Media and Communication (C3). about CLAS can be accessed at: More information at: <www.fes .de>. / Ariel C. Armony (coord.) Enrique Dussel Peters <www.ucis.pitt.edu/clas/>. Tapa Libro China 15 OK.indd 1 13/10/15 15:25 Beyond Raw Materials Who are the Actors in the Latin America and Caribbean-China Relationship? Enrique Dussel Peters Ariel C. Armony (coord.) Beyond raw materials : who are the Actors in the Latin America and Caribbean-China Relationship? / Armony, Ariel C. ... [et al.] ; coordinación general de Enrique Dussel Peters ; Armony, Ariel C. ; prefacio de Claudia Detsch ; Pablo Stefanoni. - 1a ed. - Buenos Aires : Nueva Sociedad ; Buenos Aires : Friedrich-Ebert- Stiftung ; México DF : Red Académica de América Latina y el Caribe sobre China ; Pittsburgh : University of Pittsburgh. Center of Latin American Studies, 2015. 224 p. ; 23 x 15 cm. ISBN 978-987-95677-7-7 1. Relaciones Internacionales. 2. Relaciones Económicas Internacionales. 3. América Latina. I. Armony, Ariel C., II. Dussel Peters, Enrique, coord. III. Armony, Ariel C., , coord. IV. Detsch, Claudia, pref. V. Stefanoni, Pablo, pref. CDD 327.1 Editing and proofreading: Amanda A. Morgan, Kristie J. Robinson Cover design and layout: Fabiana Di Matteo Cover photography: Shutterstock © Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung, Red Académica de América Latina y el Caribe sobre China, Center of Latin American Studies/University of Pittsburgh, Fundación Foro Nueva Sociedad Defensa 1111, 1º A, C1065AAU Buenos Aires, Argentina First edition: 2015 ISBN 978-987-95677-7-7 Queda hecho el depósito que establece la Ley 11.723. Libro de edición argentina. Contents Preface Claudia Detsch and Pablo Stefanoni 7 Introduction Enrique Dussel Peters and Ariel C. Armony 9 Section i. General Framework and Topics Anti-Chinese Sentiment in Latin America: An Analysis of Online Discourse Ariel C. Armony and Nicolás Velásquez 17 The Omnipresent Role of China’s Public Sector in Its Relationship with Latin America and the Caribbean Enrique Dussel Peters 50 Key Actors in China’s Engagement in Latin America and the Caribbean: Government, Enterprises, and Quasi-Governmental Organizations Zhimin Yang 73 Chinese Investment in Latin American Infrastructure: Strategies, Actors, and Risks Bettina Gransow 86 Section II. Case Studies Actors in the Argentina-China Soybean Trade and in Chinese Immigration to Argentina Eduardo Daniel Oviedo 117 A Clash of Paradigms? Trust and Authority in Sino-Brazilian Agricultural Cooperation Adrian H. Hearn 143 The Sino-Venezuelan Oil Cooperation Model: Actors and Relationships Hongbo Sun 167 Chinese Investment in Brazil’s Strategic Minerals: An Evolving Partnership Julie Michelle Klinger 183 Key Actors in Economic Relations between China and the Caribbean Jingsheng Dong 205 About the Authors 217 Preface The emergence of the People’s Republic of China as a superpower— it is the planet’s largest exporter and second largest economy—has reshaped international power relationships and solidified the shift of the world’s commercial and financial flows to the North Pacific. As part of accelerated processes of urbanization, millions of Chinese people have risen out of poverty, others have begun to enjoy middle-class lev- els of consumption, and a few have joined the new elite of millionaires, a status that is allowed even to members of the Communist Party today. Along with this, the Asian giant has taken on enormous importance in Latin America, owing in particular to its great demand for commodities, which has contributed to the rising prices of raw materials exported from the region (such as soybeans and minerals) and to the improve- ment of terms of exchange. China’s importance is also due, however, to the growth of its investments in Latin America, including in strategic businesses and critical infrastructure, as well as to its loans. Today, China is the chief commercial partner of Brazil, which in 2013 was the source of 45 percent of China’s whole-grain soy imports. It is the chief market for exports from Brazil and Chile, and the second largest for Argentina, Colombia, Peru, Uruguay, and Venezuela. Those who see the world as divided into camps, especially from a pro- gressive Latin American perspective, see China as a counterweight to US “back-yard imperialism” and also—in a sort of Third World bad habit—as an ally of countries that are on the periphery of the South- South framework in a world that is moving from a unipolar to a multi- polar system. In China’s Policy Paper on Latin America and the Caribbean (2008), China’s own government speaks of a “harmonious world of durable peace and common prosperity”, and seeks to distance itself from images associated with old colonial powers. Critics, however, point to an ever-increasing dependence on China, which could lead to new forms of political and economic subjection. What are the most appropriate ways of considering Chinese influence in Latin America? Is it possible to talk about win-win situations or stra- tegic cooperation in reference to these international ties? Who are the actors? What specific shape do Chinese advances take in the region, advances that have generated anti-Chinese feelings, especially in Central America? Is this “neo-colonialism by invitation”, as the case in Africa has been described? Is China contributing to the reprimarization of 7 Latin American economies already marked by extractivism? What dif- ferentiates the interchanges between China and Latin America from prior unequal relationships between center and periphery? Are more egalitarian relationships even possible, given the enormous asymmetries in power that exist? This book addresses these questions and others, the answers to which pose a great challenge to Latin American nations and their policy- makers. Are what frequently appear to be attitudes of fear or enthusi- asm, or as criticism by opponents of