3. Toward an Understanding of a Global China: A Latin American Perspective

This chapter proposes an initial reading of the logic of China’s evolving narrative as a global power. The piece attempts to understand some of the fundamental elements that frame China’s attempts at justifying its strategy to extend its global reach. While recognizing the speculative nature of this exercise, we also acknowledge the demand to engage in a dialogue that goes beyond explanations centered on China’s thirst for natural resources, unbalanced trade patterns, and other familiar themes that, although important, are not sufficient to fully comprehend China’s ascension to global status. An additional aspect of this intellectual task is to examine China’s emerging narrative from a perspective other than that of the United States. The deepening of China’s relationship with Latin America offers an excellent opportunity to examine this theme from a new standpoint.