China’s growing ties with Latin America are back in the spotlight, as President Xi Jinping made a trip to Peru and Brazil on multiple missions. China says it is committed to forging friendly, mutually beneficial relations with Latin America with no strings attached. However, strategic rivalry is the mindset with which the US is viewing China’s presence in the region. Some US officials are openly warning that China is “on the 20-yard line to our homeland”.

What is bringing China and Latin America closer? Is the US getting too sensitive about China-Latin America relations? Host Ding Heng is joined by Pedro Steenhagen, PhD candidate in International Politics at Fudan University, and Director of Development at Observa China; Dr. Zhou Mi, Senior Research Fellow at Chinese Academy of International Trade and Economic Cooperation; Sultan Hali, a retired Pakistani Air Force officer and China observer.