The United States foreign policy approach to China – from President Donald Trump’s bellicose words to the administration’s description of China as “a revisionist power” – has been criticised by some as ineffectual bluster, particularly in the face of growing uncertainty over Washington’s commitment to its allies.
But more, it is based on a misunderstanding of Chinese foreign policy which fails to account for the other means by which Beijing may achieve its goals. One example is China’s increased involvement in Latin America, where its influence is growing.
Popular Western conceptions of Chinese foreign policy come in two versions. The first assumes that it showers corrupt regimes with Chinese money with little discernible aims, as in the depiction of Chinese loans to Venezuela. This also views Chinese foreign policy as being a largely mercenary endeavor.
The second is the perception of China as a revisionist power that seeks to challenge US dominance, focusing largely on the build-up of China’s military and reflected in Trump’s call for a “hard power” budget.
This assumes that a clash between China and the US is almost inevitable, as popularised by Graham Allison’s bestseller, Destined for War. Despite their differences, both views ignore the other approaches China is using to realize its goals abroad.
Honed by its experience in Africa, Chinese foreign policy emphasizes soft power assets, in the form of a global charm offensive. China has become a popular study destination for students from Anglophone Africa, for example, countries which also find appeal in the so-called Beijing Consensus, or Chinese model of economic development.
Beijing uses shared experiences to further its ties with the developing world, such as recalling the struggles of national liberation to former colonies. China’s leaders are also quick to exploit the mistakes of the Trump presidency.
For example, China stands to gain a greater foothold in Iran’s oil industry as the threat of American sanctions scare away European firms.
In America’s backyard
Panama’s recognition of the People’s Republic of China in 2017 is an indication of Beijing’s growing influence in the region, concerning those worried about the erosion of Washington’s hold over Latin America.
Beijing describes the region as “vibrant and promising,” exploiting US missteps in the region, such as Trump insulting various nations by describing them as “sh*tholes.”
Such outbursts have alienated many, ensuring that former Secretary of State Rex Tillerson’s warning of China’s “imperial ambitions” on the continent will cut little ice among Latin American governments.
China is also able to gain influence in Latin America due to its lack of related historical baggage. Tillerson’s warning is surely perceived as hypocritical by many Latin American states, given the long and contentious history of US interference in its neighbors to the south.
China, on the other hand, has been able to use its experience of economic development to position itself as a potential alternative power and influence in the region.
It is telling that the US is mistakenly focusing on hard power at the expense of soft power: Joseph Nye, the founding father of soft power, warned that the Trump administration has eroded America’s soft power capabilities. Citing a survey from the Pew Research Centre, among respondents from 134 countries, only 30% had a positive attitude toward the US – the same proportion as toward China.
Power of the ‘petroyuan’
Venezuela’s decision to price its oil reserves in Chinese yuan rather than US dollars has been interpreted as desperation on the part of Venezuela’s government. But it also serves to illustrate China’s growing influence – and its potential to challenge the US in a different way to the traditional approach of a revisionist power.
The petroyuan was well received in Russian state media such as Russia Today, echoing Moscow’s willingness to forego the dollar in favor of the yuan. This is part of the Kremlin’s attempts to diminish the petrodollar and economically isolate the US.
Trump’s strategies may have augmented US military power in a bid to counter China and Russia, but misinterpretation of Chinese strategy may see the chipping away of this pillar of US economic hegemony.
Another of China’s gains is El Salvador’s newly forged relations with Beijing, and its concurrent severing of ties with Taiwan. Beijing’s willingness to fund infrastructure projects in El Salvador led to Taipei accusing Beijing of engaging in “dollar diplomacy” in order to isolate it.
While these have long been features of China’s policies toward the developing world, the hostile reaction of the US, which previously was largely indifferent to diplomatic switches from Taiwan to China, is unprecedented.
This has been attributed to the hawkish John Bolton’s influence on the Trump administration. Yet it also shows Washington’s fears over China’s involvement in a region seen as the American sphere of influence, as expressed as far back as the Monroe Doctrine in 1823.
These developments are likely to end US indifference toward the developing world, given that this attitude has helped cement China’s post-Cold War objectives.
What do China’s maneuvers in Latin America add up to?
The idea of a clash between the US and China as a growing superpower inevitably focuses on China’s military capabilities, but this ignores the other means at Beijing’s disposal. The legendary Chinese strategist Sun Tzu said that “subduing the enemy without fighting is the acme of skill” – China’s foreign policy strategies seem focused on such a goal.
Tom Harper is a doctoral researcher in politics at the University of Surrey
This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license.
Read the original article.
At last someone is talking seriously about China in South America …this is exactly a wining game for China …USA help’s it all comes to supplying more ARMS and they are using the same mindset as in AFRICA …be carefull , don’t do this and that with China !!! You just sit there tigh in Ur poor misereble country ( let Ur youth have NO future , no food ,and don’t build any needed infrastructure for business to go forward ! ) , …We will eventualy come to help U !!! What a load of CRAP USA is using to convince nations to follow them …wonder where these Diplomats are from ? MAR’S ?
The US has just opened 3 new military bases in Argentina. It will try to counter China in the same way it has dealt with the Middle East and Africa. It will create chaos to prevent anyone else from prospering there, especially not the native populations which it has kept poor for a hundred years.
The Bush dynesty as huge land holdings in Paraguy and Brazil, thousands of sq klms, over the one of the largest underground auqafers in the world giving it control of vast amounts of water. The two richens men in Argentina have nothing to do with cows they are oil men. There is a facgtory owned by one of them that is a stregitic asset of the western oil companies because it makes specialized drilling pipe.
That is at least part of the reason for the new bases here in Argentina and no doubt in several other SA countries.
The US really has a problem, it has a huge trillion dollar military which can destroy the world many times over, yet it can win no wars or resolve its problems in South America or anywhere else.
I fear Latin America is in for the destabilization we see everywhere the US can’t keep or maintain hegemony, largely because it has nothing to offer, soft power means you have something positive on offer – the US has nothing but slaughter.
Well…
They (Arginine opposition) should have thought about it (the Argintine economy) before they replaced Cristina Fernández with the pro-western Mauricio Macri
(on orders of Washington maybe? As a mean of killing off the politically sensitive JF-17 deal http://www.defenseworld.net/news/12186/China_To_Supply_20_Thunder_Fighter_Jets_To_Argentina#.W5PrFroTGhA)
A proposal which was destine for the Latin market that Argentina could have taken advantage of…
Anyway, too little too late for Argentina. It’s now a case of you are screwed if you do (i.e., as in partnering with the Chinese in which case these products stands to be sanctioned and embargoed) and, you are also screwed if you don’t (in which case the Argentina economy remains stagnant, indefinitely, going into the future)…
The price Argintina, not China, or the US, must endure for being stucked in between two very very hard rocks in a very very hard place…
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Well, the American satraps "elected" through regime change and/or psyops in 2014-2016 are doing what they can to slow China down in Latin America (new military bases in Brazil, Colombia, Argentina and Ecuador; Brazil and Peru blocking the transamazonic railway because of "ecological reasons" practically at the same time).
But the thing is: what can the USA give to Latin America? Well, surely, it can give their corrupt elites and their generals a comfortable retirement in Miami. It can give their bankers and capitalists a safe haven for their assets in Panama and the Caribbean. It can give weapons for their corrupt Armed Forces. What it can’t give is investment for their peoples — only China can do that.
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“what can the USA give to Latin America”
Will Washington built a Boeing or Lockheed Martin production plant in Argintina, in partnership with Buenos Aires, to co-produce the F-16 or other American products for the Latin market?
I doubt it. They wouldn’t even let the Japan, ROK, or Taiwan in on the F-16 secret so why would Argentina be an exception to this fact?
China however is offering Buenos Aries a full partnership, like in Pakistan, to pump up Argintina’s economy with the JF-17, J-10, K-8 maybe. An offer Argentina shouldn’t have refused…
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Latin America is already destabilised, it’s a mess. So what can China do differently ?
Fuma Quimono And in English ?
If you coul dmaybe speak English, this might make sense.
Back in 1900 Aus and Arg had the highest living standards in the world (including USA). Fastforward 60yrs and Arg is a basket case.
But Virgens… China doesn’t elect their leaders. So the S Americans are ahead of you.
US will be increasing military bases in Latin America.. Most strategic resources in brazil already in US hands. Soon any presidential candidate in most south American countries will need to make trip to US, kiss the ring and receive blessing.
Flora de la Sinensis Yes ..Argentina is a white or trying to be it large european descendents they considered themselves white and they will follow USA or E.U, …even if their intentions are bad !! When they had the war of MALVINAS , Europe and USA did not help them …instead they helped U.K. !! So tell me Argentina does NOT have MEMORIES ???
Trump is trying to get momenton on he’s policy towards China …cause he’s going to serve 2 terms …1 in white house, the 2 in JAIL !!!
Fuma Quimono
Sorry Quimono, I see [Argentinians] as having an instinctive Kimberly Noel Kardashian West, Evita María Duarte de Perón, and Cristina Elisabet Fernández de Kirchner, touch… Very very tasty and hummy that is but, NEVER EVER allowed into HM the Anglo Queen’s chamber…
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Sad isn’t it? I mean wherever the little red riding hood goes https://youtu.be/By5ql5a6Y40 the BIG, BIG, BIGGGGG FAT WOLF https://www.bing.com/images/search?view=detailV2&ccid=H6m%2bKbWI&id=8546D3364890261ECEB7F5F1C0B9395A33D77632&thid=OIP.H6m-KbWIq24Xwjqsd88gjgHaJD&q=chinese+little+red+riding+hood+and+big+bad+wolf&simid=608055857098784919&selectedIndex=4&qpvt=chinese+little+red+riding+hood+and+big+bad+wolf follows…
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Yashad Rizvi Invest, develop, trade, creat opportuinity for the people of Latin America, as it is doing in Africa. Certainly not build bases for slaughter as the US is doing.
Throw good money after bad….. like the rest of the world’s been doing for 60yrs
Mahatma Darby Erm,, like the W did in Africa just before the colonial period. Next thing you’ll be taking up the white man’s burden and building an empire.
Flora de la Sinensis And in English ?
Yashad Rizvi
No no, Rizvi…
It’s actually known as Chinglish — the new standard of the one belt one road world and proud of it ????????????….
So, whats your beef with us, Rizvi? Had some Chini Chini Hickory, dockery dick upped one on you or somethin’? ????????????
C’mon, Rizvi (Did some research and all authorities on the subject says Rizvi is Arabis and/or Persian but I suspect “Asiatic”)! Grow up Man! Have some fun. Go crazy. Go nuts. Let it all hang out…
Why kill yourself? Life’s too short for that. Go look up a Stormy Daniel or two and surrender yourself in full. Can’t fight it you know.
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Maybe only one and a half terms:
Half a term as president until impeachment, and one term as you said… LOL…
Yashad Rizvi You are Trumpeting your Master’s shit hole tune.
Low Shen-Cheang Well I suppose Latin America will be another source of larger sausages for lonely young ladies in Peking.
Fuma Quimono But China’s TFR is less than 2, it seems your young ladies prefer something else.
Yashad Rizvi Maybe U should spend more time in the college to learn some MORE languages …Im fluent in 4 !!!