[et_pb_section admin_label=”section”][et_pb_row admin_label=”row”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″][et_pb_text admin_label=”Texto” background_layout=”light” text_orientation=”left” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid”]<\/p>\n
China is a giant that will be the top world economic power in just a few short years. Chinese diplomacy, working hand in hand with its companies, has managed to execute smart economic and trade strategies, leading to its increased presence in nearly every country and region on the planet. This has, in many cases, displaced traditional powers, such as the United States, Europe and Japan, from emerging markets.<\/p>\n
Latin America has not traditionally been a priority for China, which has focused more on leading trade in Africa and accessing the large European and U.S. markets. However, it has recently picked up its pace there as well, erupting forcefully into the region<\/a> and forging new relations with countries such as Brazil, Argentina, Bolivia, Venezuela, Cuba and Nicaragua.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label=”Quote” background_layout=”light” text_orientation=”left” background_color=”#e6eef4″ use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid” custom_padding=”30px|30px|30px|30px”]<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label=”Texto” background_layout=”light” text_orientation=”left” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid”]<\/p>\n In Latin America, China had previously been a voracious buyer of raw materials, boosting exports in many countries. It also made Latin America a destination for many of its products, albeit with little to no political or economic influence. Taiwan has taken advantage of this situation in recent decades to begin economic, political and cultural diplomacy efforts, which has not only let it open up important markets for its companies, but also allowed it to finance its political efforts independent of continental China, particularly in Central America. It has also flexed its economic and trade muscles in markets in need of new investments to jump-start economic development, taking advantage of the United States\u2019 apparent step back and skepticism of its commitment to the region, as well as the lack of European leadership, which has been focused on its own internal problems.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_image admin_label=”Image” src=”https:\/\/ideasen.llorenteycuenca.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2017\/08\/GRAFICO-Panama-ENG.png” show_in_lightbox=”off” url_new_window=”off” use_overlay=”off” animation=”off” sticky=”off” align=”left” force_fullwidth=”off” always_center_on_mobile=”on” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid” \/][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section admin_label=”Secci\u00f3n” fullwidth=”off” specialty=”off” transparent_background=”off” background_color=”#00847d” allow_player_pause=”off” inner_shadow=”off” parallax=”off” parallax_method=”off” padding_mobile=”off” make_fullwidth=”off” use_custom_width=”off” width_unit=”on” make_equal=”off” use_custom_gutter=”off”][et_pb_row admin_label=”Fila” make_fullwidth=”off” use_custom_width=”off” width_unit=”on” use_custom_gutter=”off” padding_mobile=”off” allow_player_pause=”off” parallax=”off” parallax_method=”off” make_equal=”off” parallax_1=”off” parallax_method_1=”off” column_padding_mobile=”on”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″][et_pb_text admin_label=”Un actor emergente, el caso de Panam\u00e1” background_layout=”light” text_orientation=”left” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid” text_text_color=”#ffffff” custom_padding=”15px|15px|15px|15px”]<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section admin_label=”Secci\u00f3n” fullwidth=”off” specialty=”off” transparent_background=”off” background_color=”#eaf1e0″ allow_player_pause=”off” inner_shadow=”off” parallax=”off” parallax_method=”off” padding_mobile=”off” make_fullwidth=”off” use_custom_width=”off” width_unit=”on” make_equal=”off” use_custom_gutter=”off”][et_pb_row admin_label=”Fila” make_fullwidth=”on” use_custom_width=”off” width_unit=”on” use_custom_gutter=”off” padding_mobile=”off” allow_player_pause=”off” parallax=”off” parallax_method=”off” make_equal=”off” parallax_1=”off” parallax_method_1=”off” column_padding_mobile=”on”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″][et_pb_text admin_label=”Texto” background_layout=”light” text_orientation=”left” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid”]<\/p>\n China has come to stay, and it will play an important economic role in Latin America. However, despite the economic vacuum left by other world powers, there are no empty spaces in politics; China has also begun politically influencing the region. It has decided to put all its cards on the table to permanently and diplomatically displace Taiwan in the region.<\/p>\n Though Oscar Arias, then-president of Costa Rica, formally announced the country\u2019s break in relations with Taipei and opening of relations with and recognition of the People\u2019s Republic of China in 2007, no other political gesture had been made until June 12, 2017, when the Panamanian government dropped its diplomatic alliance with Taipei and established an alliance with the People\u2019s Republic of China<\/a>. This announcement took many by surprise, but here we should remember that China has always been important to Panama, both for trade and economics.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label=”Ladillo 1″ background_layout=”light” text_orientation=”left” background_color=”#ffffff” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid” custom_padding=”30px|30px|30px|30px” saved_tabs=”all”]<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label=”Texto” background_layout=”light” text_orientation=”left” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid”]<\/p>\n During the last financial year, China was the second-largest user of the Panama Canal, accounting for 18.9 percent of total cargo transported (38 million tons). It is the main supplier of goods for the Colon Free Trade Zone, revealing the import and endurance of its presence in the country. Until this year, Panama\u2019s diplomatic relations with Taiwan had coexisted with its trade relations with China, but the Asian giant has since imposed a new dynamic, presaged by the announcement that it will make important investments in the country.<\/p>\n La Rep\u00fablica Popular China es el 2do usuario m\u00e1s importante del Canal y adem\u00e1s es el 1er proveedor de mercanc\u00edas de la Zona Libre de Col\u00f3n.<\/p>\n — Juan Carlos Varela (@JC_Varela) June 13, 2017<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n“Latin America has not traditionally been a priority for China, which has focused more on leading trade in Africa and accessing the large European and U.S. markets”<\/span><\/em><\/h2>\n
AN EMERGING PLAYER, THE CASE OF PANAMA<\/h2>\n
“No other political gesture had been made until June 12, 2017, when the Panamanian government dropped its diplomatic alliance with Taipei and established an alliance with the People\u2019s Republic of China”<\/span><\/em><\/h2>\n
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