How the U.S. Election May Influence China’s Engagement in the Americas

INSTITUTE OF THE AMERICAS U.S. Election May Influence China’s Engagement in the Americas

There is a distinct possibility that the upcoming 2020 United States presidential election may reverse the aforementioned perceptions between the two nations if Joe Biden is elected. Though many do note that competition will still be an “unavoidable feature” of the U.S.- China relationship at some level. 7 Thus, it is useful as the election draws closer to evaluate the issue through each prospective administration’s lens – a second term for President Trump or a Biden government. HOW WOULD THIS ISSUE LOOK IN A SECOND TRUMP ADMINISTRATION? A starting point for the policy environment of a second Trump Administration appears to be a continued sentiment of “suspicion” regarding China’s interests in Latin America. 8 According to the Administration’s 2017 National Security Strategy, “China seeks to pull the region into its orbit through state-led investments and loans.” 9 This statement was then echoed by Secretary of State Mike Pompeo’s in a 2019 speech, in which he explained that “when China does business in places like Latin America, it often injects corrosive capital into 6 . Gewirtz, Paul. “Can the US-China crises be stabilized?” Brookings Institution . Series: FromOrder to Chaos. 26 Jun. 2019. https://www.brookings.edu/blog/order-from-chaos/2019/06/26/can-the-u-s-china-crisis-be- stabilized/. 7 . Ruwitch, John. “Could A President Biden Reverse U.S.-China Policy? Advisor, ScholarsWeigh In.” NPR News . Heard on All Things Considered . 9 Aug. 2020. https://www.npr.org/2020/08/09/900703253/could-a-president- biden-reverse-u-s-china-policy-advisor-scholars-weigh-in. 8 . Lum, Thomas & Sullivan, Mark P. “China’s Engagement with Latin America and the Caribbean.” Congressional Research Service , 1 Jun. 2020, https://fas.org/sgp/crs/row/IF10982.pdf. 9 Ibid.

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