China’s Expanding Economic Footprint in South America: Power, Dependency, and Strategic Choice

China’s economic presence in South America has moved from opportunistic engagement to a deeply embedded, system-shaping force. This intelligence brief examines how Beijing has positioned itself as a leading trade partner, infrastructure financier, and technology provider across the continent—reshaping supply chains, investment priorities, and strategic autonomy for South American states.

The analysis traces China’s evolution from a commodity-driven partner to a comprehensive economic actor spanning energy, mining, renewables, transport infrastructure, digital connectivity, and electric mobility. It highlights country-level dynamics in Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Peru, and Venezuela, showing how lithium, copper, soybeans, oil, ports, power grids, and EV ecosystems have become central to China’s long-term strategy. While this engagement has delivered capital, connectivity, and growth opportunities, the report also flags emerging structural risks—overdependence, asymmetric bargaining power, governance challenges, and reduced policy flexibility.

Crucially, the brief maps how regional fragmentation amplifies China’s leverage, while external actors such as the United States and European Union struggle to offer competitive alternatives at scale. For policymakers, investors, and strategic planners, this is essential intelligence on one of the most consequential economic shifts in the Western Hemisphere. Following Global Eye Intelligence ensures early access to such high-impact assessments—before dependencies harden and strategic room for manoeuvre narrows.