China and the Caribbean have evolved rapidly since the 1970s due to strategic factors. For example, China regards the Caribbean as a key controller of global sea routes. Again, the Caribbean provided an optimal environment for Chinese investment in especially when referring to the former’s investment in Guyanese agriculture. This economic relationship has boosted Chinese food security since the 1970s. The relationship further strengthened through the implementation of the One China Policy that reinforced the diplomatic support for Taiwan. The relationship has supported the development and infrastructural projects, which remain China’s global geostrategic interests. Notably, the relationship between the two parties aims at promoting peaceful coexistence to build a harmonious world that promotes prosperity. Further, the Caribbean has always provided raw materials for China’s economic growth; including bauxite, timber, and minerals for industrial expansion.
Furthermore, Caribbean countries like Cuba, sand the Dominican Republic have provided a lucrative market for many Chinese products. The market of over 40 million people supports Chinese investments and employment opportunities for many Chinese workers (Sullivan & Lum, 2019). Therefore, the Caribbean has acted as a spring-road for exporting Chinese products to other developed economies like the US, Canada, and the EU. Furthermore, the 16 trade agreements between the two parties in 2004 reinforced education, biotechnology, and political gains. The strong bilateral links between China and the Caribbean diversified bilateral trade and increased Chinese revenues to $2.3 billion by 2006 from the previous $1.8 billion. The trade-in nickel, and sugar, for instance, boosted the Cuban economy, especially in 2007, when China received approximately 10,000 tons of nickel (Sullivan & Lum, 2019). The two giants further expanded their relationships in 2007 by expanding their biotechnology joint ventures, which facilitated mass production of monoclonal antibodies and neuro-engineering products.
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Latin America remains an area of interest for Chinese trade strategies, especially after joining the world trade organization. China drafted the White Paper to give it the power to control its economic activities in the region. Therefore, Chinese foreign policies intend to revitalize trade flows and boost her financial resources in Latin America and the Caribbean. This implies that her policies aim at acquiring stronger technical infrastructure projects and increasing strong diplomatic relations (Andres & Gil-Barragan, 2018). Therefore, the Chinese policies intend to promote bilateral cooperation frameworks that increase industrial and multilateral cooperation with regards to both social and cultural considerations. Currently, Chinese foreign policies aim at improving international power through economic reforms, collaboration, and cooperation. The 2016 version of the White Paper emphasized sustainable development and addressed climate change in addition to technological problems including cybersecurity.
The Chinese foreign policies resulted in the issue of new security concept (NSC), which informed the expansion of NATO and forced the US to expand and strengthen its alliances and global security cooperation. Again, the foreign policies addressing peaceful coexistence promoted peaceful development in other countries. For example, the concept of peaceful development has reinforced their relationships with the United States, Europe, and Latin America. The year 2008 remains important in Chinese foreign policy promoted both regional and global relations that promoted economic growth in the United States and the West (Weissmann, 2015). Therefore, the policies have maintained a stable international environment, especially in the United States. Consequently, the country’s foreign policies have facilitated success in Central Asia, South Asia, Latin America, and Africa. Its cooperation with other major emerging powers like Mexico, India, and Russia has increased trade corridors.
References
Andres, A. & Gil-Barragan, J. M. (2018). China’s Policy Paper on Latin America and the Caribbean: Ten Years After. https://www.e-ir.info/2018/11/05/chinas-policy-paper-on-latin-america-and-the-caribbean-ten-years-after/
Sullivan, M. P. & Lum, T. (2019). China’s Engagement with Latin America and the Caribbean. https://fas.org/sgp/crs/row/IF10982.pdf
Weissmann, M. (2015). Chinese Foreign Policy in a Global Perspective: A Responsible Reformer “Striving For Achievement”. JCIR : VOL. 3, No. 1. https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/986b/5e1f242e5c3d8bc0cf77af231200a268e8f3.pdf
