China in the Americas: Assessing the Impact and Implications of Authoritarian Capital

Speakers:

• Bethany Allen-Ebrahimian, China Reporter, Axios 
• Mariano Federici, Senior Managing Director, K2 Integrity, and Former Head of Argentina's Financial Intelligence Unit 
• Julio Guzman, Former Reagan-Fascell Democracy Fellow, National Endowment for Democracy and Founder, Peru's Partido Morado 
• Jorge Quiroga, Former President of Bolivia
• Eric Farnsworth, Vice President, Americas Society/Council of the Americas 

Following the release of AS/COA's new report, Exploring the Impact and Implications of Chinese Capital in Latin America and the Caribbean, experts discussed China's growing economic and political influence in Latin America and the Caribbean. At a virtual event covering the release of the report, Bethany Allen-Ebrahimian, Axios' China reporter, provided an overview of China's geostrategic activities in countries outside of Latin America and the Caribbean. She also pointed out specific examples where China retaliated against trade partners for comments or actions critical of the government.

Former President of Bolivia Jorge Quiroga discussed the risks of dealing with China, including loss of control of critical infrastructure. Julio Guzman, a former Fellow at the National Endowment for Democracy, suggested Western countries compete for hearts and minds to improve how Latin America views the United States and democracies.

At the heart of the conversation was an understanding and acceptance of China's presence in Latin America and the Caribbean and a need to ensure that all investors adhere to rules and standards to reduce corruption. Mariano Federici, former head of Argentina's Financial Intelligence, noted the importance of financial integrity in government and civil society.

• Download Exploring the Impact and Implications of Chinese Capital in Latin America and the Caribbean.