Latin American Journal of Asian Studies

An analytical framework for examining Ecuador’s Foreign Policy toward China with a focus on the Economic Agenda (2007– 2024): An autonomous or acquiescent partner?

Tonatiuh Fierro — Mon, 30 Jun 2025 00:00:00 +0000

This article examines the relevance of economic elements in the bilateral relations between Ecuador and China, and their political-diplomatic interpretation, which serves as a foundation for studying Ecuador’s foreign policy toward Beijing. Ecuador’s response to the influence of Chinese power could be characterized as more reactive and acquiescent than proactive and autonomous, as China positions itself to become a global superpower in the 21st century. The article argues that Ecuador's acquiescent foreign policy behavior toward China is a driving, though not dominant, component of its national project, regardless of the political-ideological orientation of the administration in office. Since the beginning of this century, successive Ecuadorian governments have maintained and reinforced engagement and converging positions with China at the international, regional, and bilateral levels. This relationship is not exempt from asymmetries, imbalances, challenges, contradictions, and tensions. The trend suggests that Ecuador will continue to uphold and reaffirm its acquiescent stance toward China, despite rhetoric around autonomy and the absence of a clearly defined state policy toward it.

Latin America-China Scientific Cooperation through international co-publications: Asymmetries and opportunities of a relationship below its potential

Patricio Conejero, Andres Rabosto — Mon, 30 Jun 2025 00:00:00 +0000

In recent decades, China has emerged as a global scientific power. This position has been accompanied by an expansion of its international scientific cooperation network. However, despite China's consolidation as one of Latin America's main economic and political partners, scientific integration with the region has not followed a parallel trajectory. This study analyses patterns of scientific cooperation through international co-publications, revealing asymmetries and opportunities in a relationship that is below its potential. The findings show that, although there has been an increase in the number of joint publications, the intensity of collaboration is still low and uneven. In terms of the number of joint publications, China ranks between 20th and 13th as a partner of the countries in the region, a position that is not related to its current scientific relevance or its economic integration with the region. On the other hand, the Latin American region as a whole participates in only 2% of China's international co-publications. The article argues that for the relationship between Latin America and China to reach its potential, it is necessary for Latin American countries to define a strategy for engagement with China in which scientific cooperation plays a prominent role, while at the same time developing appropriate cooperation institutions and funding mechanisms.

Ideology and Aesthetics in the Translation of Latin American Travelers’ Works in the 1960s: Red China (1965/2020) by Chilean Poet Pablo de Rokha

Keke Wang — Mon, 30 Jun 2025 00:00:00 +0000

In this study, the Chinese translation of Pablo de Rokha's poetry book China roja (2020)—translated as Xiangei Beijing de songge (Hymn Dedicated to Beijing, 1965)—is analyzed as a product of his visit to China under the cultural diplomacy of the Maoist government during the Cold War. The research focuses on the translation and publication of foreign literature in 1960s China. The study addresses three main aspects of the translation, it applies Lawrence Venuti and Andre Lefevere’s translation theory, first, is discusses the interpretation of the Chinese title; second, the translation strategies employed by Zhao Jinping, analyzed through Huang Zhonglian's Methodology of Translation (2009), with a focus on the principles rooted in Yan Fu’s translation theory; third, the editorial changes influenced by ideology and censorship. These changes reflect how the ideological manipulation and poetic aesthetics of 1960s China shaped the reception and translation of this unique work by Pablo de Rokha.

Transpacific Tones: Musical Diplomacy of Sound Confusion between China and The Andes

Rocío Rojas-Monsalve — Mon, 30 Jun 2025 00:00:00 +0000

This article presents an investigation into the sound confusion between China and the Andes as a resource for musical diplomacy. Traditionally, relations between China and Chile have focused on cultural and geographical differences. However, this research is based on the register, exploration and analysis of a musical phenomenon in which listeners from both regions confused traditional pieces. In this way, this research proposes to explore the sound similarities and the conditions that explain this confusion. Using analytical autoethnography and the reconstruction of material networks, this musical phenomenon is traced on a transnational scale. Therefore, a conceptual framework is proposed to understand how distant communities generate similar sonorities and are confused in their sonorous identification. From this perspective, it will be shown how this phenomenon does not refer to an archaic cultural identity, but arises in a contemporary global context, in folkloric festivals where folklore artists from all over the world meet. Finally, this research proposes a framework for understanding the sound confusion in terms of its potential as a tool for musical diplomacy, highlighting the conceptual elements that configure the phenomenon of sound confusion, its associated material networks and the actors involved in the process.

Nearshoring: Estimation of the potential in the Mexican automotive industry to replace imports of parts and accessories from Asia

Sergio Lagunas Puls, Brenda Lizeth Soto Pérez — Mon, 30 Jun 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Nearshoring is presented as an opportunity for Mexico; therefore, this work aims to integrate the traceability of international trade of the Mexican automotive industry and the estimation of the potential to replace imports of parts and accessories from Asia. The methodology used is decision trees to estimate the values of international trade. Data on imports of parts and accessories are used as inputs; as outputs, exports of five tariff headings of the industry. Among the main findings, China's participation as a supplier of inputs stands out, however, this country also participates as a destination for Mexican exports of this tariff headings. In addition, Mexican exports of passenger cars to China stand out. The use of the methodology of this work allows estimating the potential to substitute imports of parts and accessories from Asia, which can be replicated in other industries as a tool for attracting investments.

Re-sinization and Overseas Chinese in Latin America: Empowerment and Political Action at the Local Level

Nifta Sugey Lau Ibarias — Mon, 30 Jun 2025 00:00:00 +0000

With the aim of elaborating on the implications of the People's Republic of China's new diaspora diplomacy approach—emerging in the 2010s—beyond the well-documented objectives related to development and foreign policy (e.g., investments, aid), this study explores the intersections and mutual reinforcements between diaspora diplomacy initiatives in Latin America and processes of political organization and local-level activism among segments of the Chinese diaspora. This conjuncture—aligned with China's rise as a global power—has, on the one hand, created spaces in which diaspora individuals and groups are increasingly regarded as valuable assets for strengthening economic, social, and cultural ties between China and their countries of residence. On the other hand, it has also generated new opportunities and fostered greater confidence among some of these groups to embrace, revive, highlight, or reinterpret their “Chinese roots” in front of local audiences. However, rather than viewing this solely as an internal identity process, “re-Sinization” has supported political action among diaspora groups—including descendants—and the articulation of their own interests within their respective local contexts. These developments are largely shaped by each group’s historical trajectories and the sociopolitical environments in which they are embedded today. Seeking to delve deeper into this phenomenon, this study examines how the “re-Sinization” of the Chinese diaspora takes distinct forms in Mexico and Brazil with regard to local-level political engagement. In Brazil, due to historical trajectories, a higher degree of social integration, and sustained ties with China, diaspora groups are actively involved in China’s overseas diplomacy efforts while simultaneously participating more openly in local political processes. In contrast, in Mexico—where the Chinese community has experienced a history of severe and violent discrimination—the current forms of political engagement are more introspective, centered on both internal and external historical recognition, and on the identity reconstruction and acceptance of Chinese descendants.

Introduction

María Montt, Paz Milet — Fri, 18 Jul 2025 00:00:00 +0000