Jose Carlos Feliciano participated in the Conference “Impact of the China–United States Relationship on Latin America”
On Tuesday, November 4, 2025, Jose Carlos Feliciano Nishikawa, Deputy Director of CECHAP, took part in the conference “Impact of the China–United States Relationship on Latin America”, organized by the Red Academica Latino (e Hispano) Americanista sobre Estudios Sinológicos of the Universidad de Costa Rica and the Latin American Association for Asian and African Studies (ALADAA).
The online event featured Monica DeHart, anthropologist of the University of Puget Sound; Tonatiuh Fierro, visiting researcher of the Instituto Internacional de Estudios Políticos Avanzados “Ignacio Manuel Altamirano” (IIEPA-IMA) of the Universidad Autonoma de Guerrero; and was moderated by Andres Raggio, Secretary General of ALADAA. The conference was structured around three thematic rounds, each addressing the implications for Latin America.
In the first round, the speakers analyzed the current state of U.S.-China relations. Jose Carlos Nishikawa highlighted the volatility of this relationship and its impact on Latin America’s strategic planning and foreign policy, highlighting the role of China as the region’s main trading partner and key political actor. Tonatiuh Fierro mentioned that Latin American faces a crossroads due to internal challenges, while Monica DeHart underscored the region’s potential strategic role in the energy sector.
In the second round, the discussion centered on the technological and security implications of the U.S.-China competition. Jose Carlos Nishikawa pointed out that China’s growing presence represents an opportunity for technological development and responsible cooperation, highlighting the Chancay-Shanghai case as an example of multisectoral cooperation. He also emphasized the need to strengthen natural resource governance. Fierro and DeHart agreed that this new dynamic presents challenges on sovereignty, governance, and regional coordination.
In the third round, the discussion focused on the strategies that Latin America should adopt to address the competition between China and the United States, as well as the key role of universities and researchers in this process. Jose Carlos Nishikawa highlighted the importance of economic diversification, sustainable investment, and international cooperation, citing CECHAP’s research in collaboration with other international research centers as an example of applied cooperation. The participants agreed that Latin America should strengthen its institutional and academic capacities to position itself strategically within the global context.
At CECHAP, we promote participation in academic dialogues that foster a deeper understanding of Latin America’s position within the global dynamic between China and the United States. These spaces are essential for identifying priority topics for debate, whether in the short, medium or long term, and for strengthening cooperation among researchers and policymakers across the region.
