El Salvador's Recognition of the People's Republic of China: A Regional Context
Abstract
In January 2016, the Peoples Republic of China (PRC) abandoned an 8-year truce in its war with the Republic of China (ROC) over diplomatic recognition around the world and subsequently moved to aggressively woo traditional Taipei allies. This paper centers on the PRC' srecent successful push into Latin America, and particularly in Central America--historically a primary area of influence for the United States. Through a concerted effort--and often in exchange for promises of mega investments and financial aid--the PRC increasingly receives a warm welcome across the Latin American continent. This paper analyzes recent decisions by several countries in the Western Hemisphere in recognizing PRC and offers an in-depth assessment of El Salvador's recent decision to break historic ties to Taiwan and embrace Beijing--a move that presents a significant strategic challenge to U.S. regional interests. The PRC's activities in Venezuela, Nicaragua, and El Salvador represent a new aggressive policy in the hemisphere aimed directly at supporting the most anti U.S. governments in the region. This position only furthers the PRC's strategic interest while marginalizing the United States wherever possible. This paper concludes by arguing that the PRC drive into Latin America since 2016 represents a broader strategic threat to U.S. national security interests. It then offers three recommendations.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Mar 01, 2019
- Accession Number
- AD1149586
Entities
People
- Caitlyn Yates
- Douglas Farah
Organizations
- National Defense University