The political economy of China–Latin America relations: the making of a post-boom paradigm

Since the turn of the twenty-first century, China’s political and economic relations with Latin America have undergone two major phases, with the end of the 2000s commodities super-cycle marking a turning point. Prior to this turning point, the commodities boom served to deepen the partnership, while subsequent drivers have been mostly endogenous. The increased political engagement stems primarily from heightened bilateral interaction and collective collaboration, whereas economic momentum is mainly derived from the strengthening of commercial ties and growing cooperation across a wide range of areas. This new interdependence has made political and economic relations between China and Latin America more conventional and predictable. Under the post-boom paradigm, two defining characteristics of China–Latin America relations are complementarity and development—one is an undeniable truth; the other is both a justification and an incentive for South–South collaboration.