How Latin America Factors Into the US-China Rivalry

Chinese investments and technology are proving a powerful lure for Latin American countries.

By Leigh Wedell, as featured on The Diplomat

The U.S.-China relationship is on a new trajectory that has profound implications for other regions. Even with a resolution to the trade war possibly on the horizon, this bilateral relationship is now confronting a systemic clash that – at its heart – centers around the race to commercialize transformative technologies like artificial intelligence, the Internet of Things, and self-driving vehicles. This clash will play out not just between the United States and China, but around the world, pressuring countries and leading tech companies to choose a side.

One such region is right in the United States’ backyard: Latin America and the Caribbean. As the political atmosphere in the U.S. grows more foreboding for Chinese companies, the country’s tech giants and start-ups are focusing on the booming Latin American region.