The methodology of the study is based on an exhaustive bibliographic review of the specialized literature of the last ten years on the presence of China in the continent, the analysis of economic statistics and information obtained from interviews with academic experts in the field, as well as with leaders and members of civil society organizations (foundations, associations, social movements, environmental organizations).

1. China's Influence
on Civil Society
and Civic Space in
Latin America and
the Caribbean

2. Research brief

3. The methodology of the study is ba-
sed on an exhaustive bibliographic
review of the specialized literature of
the last ten years on the presence of
China in the continent, the analysis
of economic statistics and informa-
tion obtained from interviews with
academic experts in the field, as well
as with leaders and members of civil
society organizations (foundations,
associations, social movements, en-
vironmental organizations).
Research brief
3
The research “China’s Influence on Civil
Society and Civic Space in Latin America
and the Caribbean” contributes to the re-
construction and analysis of the influence
that the People’s Republic of China (PRC)
has had on Latin America and the Carib-
bean (LAC) in different areas, especially
concerning civil society (CS) and civic
space, during the period 2010-2020.
According to this research, most of the
available literature refers to studies on the
link between the PRC and LAC in strategic
areas through energy projects and trade,
financial, geopolitical, and military rela-
tions. In contrast, it is found that marginal
attention has been given to the study of
the presence of the PRC in Latin Ameri-
can CS, which is explained by the limited
influence of the PRC in the field of civil so-
ciety and its different organizations, given
that it has not been its priority, especially if
we compare it with the action of Western
powers. Several hypotheses are consi-
dered as an explanation, such as China’s
lack of interest due to the underestimation
and ignorance of the significant role of CS
in several Latin American countries, the
conception of the public (reduced to the
State, and a type of statehood) that China
defends, its null acceptance of civil socie-
ty, or a definition that contrasts with the
Western one, which admits an ‘’organized
civil society, separate from the State’’.
However, this does not mean that China’s
political action to influence the region lac-
ks the means to penetrate culturally Latin
American societies. On the contrary, it is
affirmed that these means exist, but they
have been made invisible or ignored by
academia and Western civil society.
The first part of the study analyzes the
Asian country’s economic policies and
relations with the Latin American region,
highlighting the trade balance deficit for
Latin American countries that trade with
China due to the import of higher va-
lue-added products from China compa-
red to lower value-added products – raw
materials, especially minerals and hydro-
carbons – that are exported to it. However,
there is also a structural complementarity
between the two regions.
On the other hand, the greater or lesser
insertion of Latin American countries in
the “New Silk Road” (NSR), China’s eco-
nomic initiative to further strengthen its
continental and transcontinental trade ne-
tworks through a set of mega infrastruc-
ture projects, land and sea, for the transit
of passengers and goods, hydrocarbons
and information technology which aims to
establish exclusive economic zones (EEZ)
capable of facilitating trade and technolo-
gical exchanges. In this initiative, foreign
direct investment (FDI) plays a key role.

4. China’s Influence on Civil Society and Civic Space in Latin America and the Caribbean
4
In the second section of the study, the
same exercise of reviewing China’s in-
fluence is carried out, focusing on each
of the three subregions of the continent
(Southern Cone/Andes/Central Ameri-
ca, Caribbean, and Mexico). The analy-
sis shows that China has stronger ties in
diplomatic, trade, and cultural terms, first
with the Southern Cone subregion, then
with the Andean subregion, and, finally,
with Central America and the Caribbean, a
subregion with which the link is frail, as evi-
denced by economic indicators (volume
of exports and imports, FDI, loans, most of
which are non-reimbursable, and project
financing, many of which are included in
the NSR) and by the scant relationship it
has with the civil society sphere.
The third section of the study contains an
analysisofrelationsbetweenChinaandCS
and the Latin American civic space, with a
distinction between the three subregions
mentioned.
It is described that China’s internationali-
zation policy has broadened its horizons
from the economic and commercial sphe-
res to other areas, such as culture, edu-
cation, and language in different areas of
civil society, which is explained, among
other reasons, by the assumption that the
PRC must gain popularity, show an image
of a “peaceful” and “non-interventionist”
country, and become known outside Asia
as a responsible world power in economic,
environmental and ecological matters.
On the other hand, it is said that China
has been strengthening its cultural strate-
gies in the West for more than a decade,
which is corroborated by the reflections of
some analysts who have called them “soft
power” (Nye, 2004) that does not resort to
coercive means, and, on the contrary, uses
cultural and ideological means, comple-
mented by diplomatic means. In China, the
concept of “soft power” was introduced
publicly and directly in the government
discourse since the arrival of Hu Jintao to
power (2004-2012) and “has begun to be
assumed from there by the political elite
of this country” (Raggio Souto and Pesce
Bassalle, 2019: 5).
According to the specialized literature
on Sino-Latin American relations and the
testimonies collected in interviews, other
modalities of strategies of the Asian power
to exercise infrastructural power in the ci-
vil society of other continents are noticed.
The weak or non-existent direct relations-
hip, without government or state interme-
diaries, between China and CSOs, has its
counterpart in the voluminous financing by
the Asian power to national states through
international cooperation projects. This
strategy consists of expanding relations
(economic, commercial, diplomatic, and
cultural) with different nations through fi-
nancing, much of which is tied to invest-
ment projects (such as large infrastruc-
ture works). However, it should be noted
that cooperation from China is not carried
out through special official agencies but
through Chinese embassies.
Concerning Latin America, there are some
CS areas in which China has had a pre-
sence and exerted influence -or sought
to influence – over the last two decades.
These have been:

5. 1) Chinese educational centers,
such as the Confucius Institutes.
2) The educational-academic sphe-
re, especially in terms of student
exchangeprogramsandacade-
mic training.
3) Environmental and human ri-
ghts organizations and move-
ments that mobilized and es-
tablished collective actions of
transnational scope to complain
about the adverse effects of Chi-
nese investment on the environ-
ment and the restriction of the
rights of communities. Regarding
Sino-Latin American links, this
last space can be considered
conflicting and not deliberated or
induced, arising as a “reaction”
of social organizations to China’s
presence in the region.
Research brief
5
The study concludes that the low incidence
of the Asian power in different Latin Ameri-
can CS spaces (foundations, social move-
ments, trade unions, business chambers,
environmental, human rights, and educa-
tional-cultural organizations) could be exp-
lained by the Asian power’s conception of
international policy concerning the nego-
tiating partners, which should be the repre-
sentatives of the States and governments.
In this sense, it is stated that China “recog-
nizes states as the legitimate counterpart
vis-à-vis the Chinese state (hierarchical
principle of equals), which has enormous
influence regarding not only political dia-
logue but also in the sphere of economic
opportunities” (Reyes, 2015: 177). There-
fore, according to the Chinese view, any
initiative coming from the private sector
or civil society must pass through the sie-
ve of governments and states. Hence, the
difficulties of Latin American CS in its re-
lationship (dialogue, negotiation, reaching
agreements) with the “Asian giant” when it
comes to discussing issues related to la-
bor, human or environmental rights.
The study emphasizes the need to pay at-
tention to “that which is not visible”, that is,
to various areas of Chinese penetration in
LAC about which there is opacity, lack of
transparency, and secrecy, as in the case
of contracts between Chinese companies
and Latin American states about which
there is not always public information. As
a result, it becomes difficult for civil socie-
ty organizations to respond effectively to
Chinese companies’ modes of operation.
These findings are part of a future research
agenda that should be oriented towards
strengthening the capacities of Latin
American civil society in all its expressions
(environmental organizations, educational
associations, citizen groups, movements)
to acquire skills and tools to establish vir-
tuous relations with the PRC. In this sense,
Latin American states and governments
also have a challenge because they esta-
blish direct relations with Chinese authori-
ties and those who can creatively devise
broader, more democratic, and inclusive
governance.

6. Bibliography
6
– Lechner, Norbert (1997). La problemática invocación de la sociedad civil. Perfiles
latinoamericanos: revista de la Facultad Latinoamericana de Ciencias Sociales,
0188-7653, Vol. 3, Nº. 5, págs. 131-144.
– Nye, Joseph (2004). Soft Power: The Means to Success in World Politics. New
York: Public Affairs. Problemas del Desarrollo, 176, pp. 9-30.
– Raggio Souto, Andrés y Pesce Bassalle, Roxana (2019). Los Institutos Confucio en
América Latina: el caso uruguayo. https://politica-china.org/areas/politica-exte-
rior/x-sei-los-institutos-confucio-en-america-latina-el-caso-uruguayo.
– Reyes, Milton (2015). “China y la Región Andina: Dinámicas en el contexto de la
integración regional sudamericana”. In: Bonilla Soria, Adrián y Milet García, Paz
(2015). China en América Latina y el Caribe: Escenarios estratégicos subregiona-
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tián, E., Rivero Rodríguez. La democracia en sus textos. Alianza Editorial, Madrid.
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@FARO.org.ec
@FARO_org
@FARO.org.ec
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