Bill Summary
This legislation is a resolution denouncing the efforts of the People's Republic of China to exert influence in Latin America. It highlights the economic and political partnerships China has developed with many countries in the region, including through trade agreements, investments, and loans. The resolution also expresses concern about China's use of its digital currency, the yuan, and its involvement in infrastructure projects and military operations in Latin America. It calls for increased U.S. engagement and investment in the region, as well as support for countries that have maintained relationships with Taiwan. The resolution also emphasizes the importance of transparency and fair bidding processes for projects in Latin America, and the need for continued technical assistance to counter corruption and disinformation. It reaffirms the importance of the annual Summit of the Americas as a forum for promoting relationships between the United States and its allies and partners in Latin America.
Possible Impacts
1. The legislation may affect people who are involved in trade with China, as it denounces their efforts to exert influence in Latin America. This could lead to changes in trade agreements and regulations, potentially affecting the economy and job opportunities for those involved in trade with China.
2. The legislation could also affect people in countries that have joined the Belt and Road Initiative, as it highlights China's use of the digital yuan and potential influence in infrastructure projects. This could impact the terms of debt agreements and labor and environmental standards in these countries.
3. The legislation may also affect diplomats and foreign service workers, as it encourages the swift nomination and confirmation of ambassadors and diplomatic personnel in Latin America. This could lead to changes in diplomatic relationships and strategies in the region, potentially affecting the safety and well-being of those working in these positions.
[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 458 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
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118th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. RES. 458
Denouncing efforts by the People's Republic of China to exert malign
influence in Latin America.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
November 9, 2023
Mrs. Shaheen (for herself, Mr. Budd, Mr. Kaine, Mr. Cassidy, Mr.
Durbin, Mr. Merkley, Mr. Hickenlooper, Mr. Kelly, Mr. Padilla, Ms.
Hassan, Mr. Welch, and Mr. Bennet) submitted the following resolution;
which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations
_______________________________________________________________________
RESOLUTION
Denouncing efforts by the People's Republic of China to exert malign
influence in Latin America.
Whereas, as of October 2023, the People's Republic of China is the main trading
partner for South America, including Brazil, Chile, Peru, and Uruguay,
and the second largest trading partner for Central America;
Whereas 21 countries in Latin America have joined the Belt and Road Initiative,
4 countries in Latin America have free trade agreements in place with
the People's Republic of China, and 7 countries in Latin America have
comprehensive strategic partnership agreements with the People's
Republic of China;
Whereas the People's Republic of China has worked to expand the use cases of the
digital yuan for the Belt and Road Initiative, even using the digital
yuan to settle cross-border transactions;
Whereas trade between Latin America and the People's Republic of China has grown
by more than $300,000,000,000 annually since 2000;
Whereas the People's Republic of China is a voting member of the Inter-American
Development Bank and the Caribbean Development Bank and provides loans
to Latin America through the China Development Bank and the Export-
Import Bank of China, including to Venezuela, which has approximately
$60,000,000,000 worth of Chinese state loans as of October 2023;
Whereas the People's Republic of China has invested in or bid on numerous
infrastructure projects in Latin America, including around the Panama
Canal, such as deep-water ports, telecommunications projects, and cyber
networks;
Whereas investments offered to countries in Latin America by the People's
Republic of China often require countries to renegotiate the terms of
their debt and have low or nonexistent labor and environmental
standards;
Whereas the People's Republic of China's refusal to disclose its lending to
foreign countries and reluctance to engage in significant debt
restructuring is undermining the missions of the International Monetary
Fund and the World Bank related to global economic development and
stability;
Whereas, in 2021, the People's Republic of China developed a Joint Action Plan
with the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States to promote
cooperation on governance, economic, and security policy;
Whereas the People's Republic of China has invested more than $70,000,000,000 in
the raw materials sector in Latin America, including critical minerals
such as lithium, nickel, and cobalt;
Whereas the People's Republic of China has sought to export military hardware to
Latin America and bolster intelligence operations and cooperation with
governments in Latin America, including by establishing a defense forum
with the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States;
Whereas Taiwan served as a permanent observer to the Central American Parliament
for more than 2 decades before the Central American Parliament voted on
August 21, 2023, to expel Taiwan and replace it with the People's
Republic of China;
Whereas State-owned Chinese media operates in Latin America and conducts malign
influence operations with a goal of influencing public opinion relating
to activities conducted by the People's Republic of China and the
leadership of the Chinese Communist Party; and
Whereas the United States has a vested interest in maintaining and growing the
important bilateral and multilateral relationships it has with countries
in Latin America, which are underscored through cooperation at the
Organization of American States and through trade agreements and
strategic dialogues: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the Senate--
(1) notes the importance of continuing to develop and
establish trade agreements with bilateral partners in Latin
America and pursue multilateral and regional engagement through
international fora to counter involvement of the People's
Republic of China in economic, political, and security issues
in the Western Hemisphere;
(2) urges additional United States investment in and
foreign assistance to Latin America, including by expanding
opportunities for private sector investment in critical
infrastructure projects or by developing and promoting new
public-private partnerships with partners in Latin America to
strengthen the economic engagement of the United States and
advance democratic governance in the region;
(3) expresses gratitude to Belize, Guatemala, Haiti,
Paraguay, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, and Saint Vincent
and the Grenadines for their continued support for Taiwan;
(4) condemns efforts by state-owned Chinese media to
conduct information operations in Latin America and sow
distrust in public institutions, including judicial systems;
(5) supports transparent bidding processes for projects
related to the telecommunications and information and
communications technology sectors in Latin America as well as
other critical infrastructure projects, including cyber and
digital connectivity projects;
(6) encourages the President and the Secretary of State to
work with the Senate to expeditiously nominate Ambassadors and
ensure diplomatic personnel are swiftly confirmed to the
relevant posts to ensure continued engagement with partner
governments in Latin America;
(7) emphasizes the importance of continuing to provide
technical assistance to partners in Latin America, including
assistance to counter disinformation, corruption, and economic
coercion through available mechanisms such as the United States
International Development Finance Corporation;
(8) reaffirms the importance of the annual Summit of the
Americas as an opportunity to promote the bilateral and
multilateral relationships between the United States and allies
and partners in Latin America, including new initiatives
established as a result of cooperation at the Summit of the
Americas such as the Americas Partnership for Economic
Prosperity;
(9) acknowledges the 24 active partnerships the United
States has with defense and security forces in Latin America
through the State Partnership Program of the National Guard,
which include an emphasis on implementing the Women, Peace, and
Security Strategy of the United States; and
(10) renews its commitment to establishing, upholding, and
investing in partnership opportunities between the United
States and Latin America.
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