China's Messages : In Search of Wider and Stronger Networking with Chile

Since its outbreak, the Covid-19 pandemic that is still punishing humanity has not only had a significant negative impact on global growth patterns and exacerbated inequality, but has also intensified conflicts in contemporary international relations. The first infections in Wuhan and the bitter controversy between the United States and China over the origin of the virus, took the dispute to the WHO and tinged a global campaign over the responsibilities for the origin of the pandemic, the ways to combat it, and the cooperation needed to solve it, issues that still engage the attention of world leaders who have yet to find effective tools to overcome it.In this context, China’s much more proactive international presence in Latin America is noteworthy, in line with a change from a low profile and accommodation within the international system – following Deng's directives – to an increasingly active presence characterized by a planned expansion of its interests and a participation in the global system in accordance with the respect demanded of a main actor that also seeks to bring the international system closer to its own criteria and parameters.The purpose of this paper is to analyze how these trends have affected the relations between China and Chile in recent times. All in all, it will be essential to trace the development of some of the historical elements that set the foundation, as well as the links, agreements, procedures, and norms of the bilateral relationship between the People's Republic of China and Chile established in December 1970, more than 51 years ago.1