Soft Power as a Key Element of China's Foreign Policy in Latin America: The Case of Panama

Abstract

The transformations in the international environment require the use of new tools and concepts of power to explain the relations between the actors. The People's Republic of China is an actor who defies the ordinary international order by undertaking a strategy to position a greater influence on the global community. This strategy uses public diplomacy, cultural resources and also related conceptions to characterize the PRC as a state that favors peaceful development, and cooperation among states. In the rapprochement to the Hispano-American region, the Soft Power used by PRC in its foreign policy towards Latin America is examined through its relationship with Panama, which has the second highest growth rate after the Republic of Chile, and also, until June 2017, was the main ally of Taiwan in the region, where the PRC is skilfully managing the ＂One China＂ policy. This proposal examines the effectiveness of the China soft power, consolidated by the collaborations in the economic matter. The aforementioned interaction between China and the Latin American region seems conceived in equal basis which differs from the treatment given to the region by the US and other powers. This examination highlights the relevant aspects that favor the soft power effectiveness in the PRC's race to cement its influence in the Latin American region.