Source: Pew Research Global Indicators Database (Data derived from Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Columbia, Peru, El Salvador, and Venezuela from 2013-2017.)
Many LAC countries may assume that Chinese exchanges and organizations operate separately from the Chinese government. After all, in most democratic countries, academic organizations, universities, and friendship associations operate with a degree of freedom.[20] This may not be the case for Chinese entities as some may be inextricably linked to the CCP. For example, the President of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, Xie Fuzhan, “is a research fellow and doctoral supervisor enjoying a special government stipend from the State Council.”[21] It is important for LAC entities and academics to be fully clarified on the degree of independence these entities may have. This not only applies to Chinese entities, but to all entities that may have competing interests with LAC countries. This is not to encourage LAC countries to abandon all ties with Chinese exchanges; rather, LAC countries must be encouraged to think critically about and ask thoughtful questions of even the most seemingly innocuous entities.
Especially in garnering support for the Belt and Road Initiative, the Chinese government seems to heavily target elites and political leaders in the region. Winning the support of the people of LAC countries may prove to be an effective strategy for US interests and offset Chinese influence. Unfortunately, this may prove to be an uphill battle, as public favorability towards China ranks above public favorability towards the U.S. On average, favorability towards the U.S. (44.4%) has declined significantly in Latin American countries. Favorability towards the Chinese (51.6%) has also declined, however they currently remain more popular than the U.S. (See Figure 3). In order to gain support within the region, it is important to keep in mind that the “us versus them” mentality surrounding many conversations about the region may be counterproductive. Conducting research on topics that resonate with both the American and LAC people is paramount to the success of any public diplomacy effort. Perhaps the strength of American entrepreneurship will resonate with local business owners; or, the freedom of expression in American academic institutions will appeal to young LAC scholars. And maybe, the U.S.’ staunch support of minority groups such as the Uighurs in Xinjiang and prosecuted Tibetans will strike a chord with freedom-loving people throughout the LAC. In other words, search for ways in which the American “brand” resonates with the LAC people.
Rachel Yu is a student at the University of Maryland, College Park, where she studies Government and Politics and Information Systems.
[1]“The Soft Power 30,” Portland and USC Center on Public Diplomacy, accessed August 6, 2019, https://softpower30.com/.
[2] Ingrid D’Hooghe, “The Rise of China’s Public Diplomacy,” Clingendael Diplomacy Papers, no. 12 (2007): 17-24
[3] Pinghui Zhang, “Xi Jinping stresses ‘cultural heritage’ on Youth Day,” South China Morning Post, May 5, 2014.
[4] D’Hooghe, 24-28
[5] “Coolie Trade in the 19th Century,” University of Minnesota Immigration History Research Center, accessed August 6, 2019, https://cla.umn.edu/ihrc/news-events/other/coolie-trade-19th-century.
[6] U.S. Library of Congress, Congressional Research Service, Latin America and the Caribbean: Issues in the 115th Congress, by Mark P. Sullivan, June S. Beittel, Nese F. Debruyne, Peter J. Meyer, Clare Ribando Seelke, Maureen Taft-Morales, and M. Angeles Villarreal, R45120 (2019), 19.
[7] U.N. Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean, “Latin America and the Caribbean’s Foreign Trade Will Grow in 2018 Amid Global Tensions that Require Greater Regional Integration,” October 31, 2018, https://www.cepal.org/en/pressreleases/latin-america-and-caribbeans-foreign-trade-will-grow-2018-amid-global-tensions-require.
[8] U.S. Library of Congress, Congressional Research Service, China’s Engagement with Latin America and the Caribbean, by Mark P. Sullivan and Thomas Lum, IF10982 (2019), 1.
[9] Katherine Koleski and Alec Blivas, “China’s Engagement with Latin America and the Caribbean,” U.S. - China Economic and Security Review Commission, (2018): 4.
[10] Laura Zhou, “‘China is just as important to South America as the US’: why Argentina is keen to start talks on free-trade agreement,” South China Morning Post, April 23, 2018.
[11] Oliver Stuenkel, “Huawei heads South: The Battle Over 5G Comes to Latin America,” Foreign Affairs, May 10, 2019.
[12] Raquel Carvalho, “In Latin America, Big Brother China is watching you,” South China Morning Post, December 21, 2018.
[13] Richard Wike, Bruce Stokes, Jacob Poushter, Laura Silver, Janell Fetterolf, and Kat Devlin, “International publics divided on China,” Pew Research Center, October 1, 2018.
[14] Falk Hartig, “Confucius Institutes: The star of China’s public diplomacy” in Chinese Public Diplomacy: The rise of the Confucius Institute, (2015): 100.
[15] Hartig, 102.
[16] “Confucius Institute Annual Development Report 2017,” Confucius Institute Headquarters (Hanban), accessed August 6, 2019, http://www.hanban.org/report/2017.pdf.
[17] Juan Pablo Cardenal, “Sharp Power Rising Authoritarian Influence: China in Latin America,” National Endowment for Democracy, (2017): 29.
[18] Cardenal, 28-29.
[19] “CELAC and China Joint Plan of Action for Cooperation on Priority Areas (2019-2021),” CELAC Forum, accessed August 6, 2019, https://www.google.com/url?q=http://www.itamaraty.gov.br/images/2ForoCelacChina/Joint-Action-Plan-II-CELAC-China-Forum-FV-22-01-18.pdf&sa=D&ust=1565104851843000&usg=AFQjCNED7jfpTxq_NwFosS7jIb7U7kr04Q.
[20] Cardenal, 32.
[21] “Xie Fuzhan,” Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS), accessed August 6, 2010, http://casseng.cssn.cn/about/about_leadership/201902/t20190228_4839054.html.
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CIENTISTAS E OUTROS CIENTISTAS
Rejane G. Amarante (Advogado Autônomo - Criminal)
Cientistas afirmam que o vírus de Wuhan é natural. Outros cientistas afirmam que foi criado em laboratório, é sintético. Há um Biolaboratório em Wuhan. Um médico chinês foi perseguido e morreu, por tentar alertar o mundo, através das redes sociais, sobre um novo vírus mortal na China em DEZEMBRO de 2019. Um jornalista e também advogado chinês saía pelas ruas e locais públicos de Wuhan, filmando tudo e enviava pelas redes sociais. Desapareceu em fevereiro de 2020.
Os danos patrimoniais no mundo inteiro são enormes.
Os lucros que alguns setores e específicas empresas vêm auferindo COM A PANDEMIA são simplesmente suspeitos.
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