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This paper discusses five recent contributions to the study of the relations between China and Latin America: (1] Hearn & León-Manríquez, 2011; (2) Fornés & Philip, 2012; (3) Fung & García-Herrero, 2012; (4) He, 2012; and (5) Strauss & Armony 2012. These five books on China, Latin America and the Western Hemisphere are reviewed in light of the question of whether the relationship promises a re-ordering of the region or a repetition of old patterns. Similar to an earlier review essay by Nicola Phillips, which this paper builds on, we observe that studies lack historical context and analysis of deeper repercussions, that the Chinese perspective is very much underrepresented, and there is a lack of differentiation between national and regional identities, in that Latin America is disaggregated into national units while China is treated as a monolithic unitary actor, which is increasingly inadequate, as it diversifies its approaches and interests. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]