Panama, Ecuador, and China:the dangers of short-term calculations

The People’s Republic of China has become a significant political and economic force in Latin America and the Caribbean, and engagement with Beijing frequently means more compromise than partnership. This report focuses on Panama and Ecuador, two small but strategically important nations in the region where China has held out the promise of economic benefits in exchange for support for its global ambitions. The report discusses the pragmatic implications of this situation and offers recommendations for Latin American and US policymakers.