A Re-evaluation of China's Relations with Latin America and the American Reaction.

How do we know whether a new power is emerging? If a new power really is emerging, what is the status quo power doing? The paper’s main goal is to explore these key IR questions in the context of the current case of emerging China. As China engages in “peaceful raising”, the effects of the emergence of a new power must to be taking place all around the world. China’s presence in Latin America is a crucial test of such process because the United States considered Latin America as their geo-economic and geo-strategic “backyard”. What changes are caused by China’s role in the region? What was/is the response of the hegemonic power? Is China a threat to American interests in Latin America? The so-called 2004-2005 “offensive” of China in Latin America was both source of hope and worry in the region/subregions, and of certain alarm in the United States, which since the original times of the Monroe Doctrine has rejected external power projections in the region.The goal of the paper is to provide an empirically grounded analysis of the new role of China in Latin America. I will take stock of the relations, seeking confirmation and refutation of some initial trends in the economic (trade and investments), political and security realms, as well as the initial American responses. Specific instances of China’s relations with Latin America â€"such us that with Venezuela and Cuba) will be analyzed in detail. ..PAT.-Unpublished Manuscript [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]