China issued a comprehensive, 23-page policy paper on Dec. 10, reviewing their essential policies towards Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC). Although it has been in preparation for some time, and was not issued in response to Washington’s National Security Strategy document, it is usefully compared in its major features to the NSS. This is the third such Chinese document: The first was issued in 2008; a second one was published in 2016; and this is now the third. Not surprisingly, there is total continuity in the Chinese approach over this 17-year period.
The document is worth reading in its entirety, which covers five major policy areas: Solidarity, Development, Civilization, Peace and People-to-People Connectivity. Here are some salient quotes:
ON CHINA’S OVERALL GOALS
“At present, changes unseen in a century are accelerating in the world, and a significant shift
is taking place in the international balance of power. The Global South stands out with a strong momentum and plays an increasingly important role in human progress … unilateral bullying undermining international peace and security. Human society is facing unprecedented challenges….
”[China is] dedicated to the common values of humanity … and a universally beneficial and inclusive economic globalization, and promotes the building of a community with a shared future for humanity … the vision of equality, mutual learning, dialogue, and inclusiveness between civilizations, and champion humanity’s common values of peace, development, fairness, justice, democracy, and freedom. We will work with LAC countries to strengthen people-to-people [exchanges] … vision of common, comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable security, balance development and security imperatives.”
ON FINANCIAL COOPERATION
“Efforts will be made to enhance dialogue and cooperation between the central banks and financial regulatory authorities of the two sides, expand cross-border local currency settlement, discuss RMB clearing arrangements, and steadily promote monetary cooperation including local currency swap … the two sides will discuss cooperation on Panda bonds.”
ON THE APPROACH TO THE WESTERN HEMISPHERE
“China is ready to carry out trilateral development cooperation in LAC countries with relevant countries outside the region and international organizations under the premise that such cooperation is proposed, agreed upon and dominated by countries in the region.… China welcomes more LAC countries to join high-quality Belt and Road cooperation… actively enhance alignment of development strategies, promote cooperation in various fields, jointly ensure the safe and smooth advancement of cooperation projects, and strive to make Belt and Road cooperation high-standard, people-centered and sustainable, so as to achieve modernization of peaceful development, mutually beneficial cooperation and common prosperity for all countries, and contribute to the building of a community with a shared future for humanity.”
