Sino-Caribbean relations explained

China plays an increasing important role of economic and developmental importance in the region and the relations with China have increased steadily over time. The Caribbean's relations with China, are largely defined as either: the People's Republic of China (PRC; "China") or the Republic of China (ROC; "Taiwan"). As of, nine states in the Caribbean recognized the PRC and four recognized the ROC.^[1]

Historically, relations were mostly based upon trade, credits, and light investments, which have increased significantly since the 1990s. For many Caribbean nations, the increasing ties with China have been used as a way to decrease long time over-dependence on western developed nations, and as a move towards South-South cooperation alongside deepening of relations with neighbouring Latin America and Africa.

The Overseas Chinese population, in this case Chinese Caribbeans, have been resident in the Caribbean region for centuries^{[2] [3] [4]} and have helped to make importaint contributions with cultural, trade, and political links in the region.^{[5] [6] [7]} For example, Sir Solomon Hochoy of Trinidad and Tobago and Arthur Chung of Guyana were among the first of ethnic Chinese ancestry to lead countries in the Americas. In more modern times China and Taiwan have also expanded several levels of cooperation with the Caribbean nations.

China and the Government of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago were said to have formed an agreement where asphalt from Trinidad and Tobago would be exported to China during its construction boom in preparation for the 2008 Beijing Olympics.^{[8] [9]} In exchange, China has led several construction projects in Trinidad and Tobago and the Caribbean region via Chinese owned construction companies. Trinidad and Tobago has also mooted the idea of starting direct shipments of oil and liquid natural gas direct from Trinidad and Tobago to China, to fuel the later's growing need for resources to fuel their economy.

As the Caribbean political heads of government have had several messy run-ins^{[10] [11] [12] [13]} with the Bush administration in the United States with respect to recent demands, China has been more sympathetic to the Caribbean position globally and has stepped up military training exercises in the Caribbean for example in direct response to several sanctions placed on governments in the Caribbean region for not following the wishes of the Bush administration.^{[14] [15]}

Several capital-works or infrastructural projects across the Caribbean region have also been financed or extended full grants by the Chinese government.^[16]

Visa free travel

See also: Visa policy of mainland China, Visa policy of Taiwan, Visa requirements for Chinese citizens and Visa requirements for Taiwanese citizens. In recent years both China and Taiwan have signed a collection of short-term bilateral reciprocal visa-free travel agreements along with nations in the Caribbean region.

See also

• Foreign relations of China
• Sino-African relations
• Sino-Latin America relations
• Sino-Pacific relations
• Barbados–China relations
• China–Cuba relations
• Chinese Caribbeans
  • Chinese Jamaicans
• Caribbean Chinese cuisine
• Internationalization of the renminbi
• List of the largest trading partners of China

Further reading

• News: Mohammed . Kenneth . 25 January 2022 . Reparations to the Caribbean could break the cycle of corruption – and China's grip . Global development & Opinion . U.K. . The Guardian . 25 January 2022 . 3 February 2022 .
• Griffith . Rasheed . 10 September 2021 . How U.S. Banks Push the Caribbean Toward China . China Brief . Washington D.C. . . Washington, D.C. . 10 September 2021 . 21 . 17 . 11–17 . 31 January 2022 .
• News: Ellis . Evan . Berg . Ryan C. . Pellecchia . Kristie . 12 June 2021 . China reminds us why the Caribbean is vital to US strategic interests . The Hill (newspaper) . 12 June 2021 . 2 February 2022 .
• Web site: China Caribbean Observatory: Country profiles of the Caribbean . Joseph-Harris . Serena . 2021 . www.chinacaribbeanobservatory.net . 5 February 2022 .
• Web site: 5 things to know about Caricom and the Belt and Road Initiative . Doodnath . Alina . October 14, 2023 . caribbean.loopnews.com . Loop News . March 22, 2024 .

External links

• Ministry of Foreign Affairs for the People's Republic of China - Department of Latin American Affairs (Covering regions of Latin America and the Caribbean)

Notes and References

1. News: 10 December 2021 . Who are Taiwan's diplomatic allies? . 3 April 2023 . Taiwan’s last allies include: Belize, eSwatini (formerly known as Swaziland), Guatemala, Haiti, the Holy See (the central administration of the Roman Catholic Church), Honduras, the Marshall Islands, Nauru, Palau, Paraguay, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, and Tuvalu..
2. Web site: Chinese Arrival . Staff writer . 2023 . Subject Guide . www.nalis.gov.tt . National Library and Information System Authority (NALIS) of Trinidad & Tobago . 25 March 2023 .
3. Web site: The Caribbean Connection to Asian Heritage . Rachelle . 7 May 2015 . New Comer to Canada . www.torontopubliclibrary.ca . Toronto Public Library . 25 March 2023 .
4. Book: Lai, Walton Look . https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/9781444351071.wbeghm045 . Asian indentured immigration to the Caribbean, 1838–1917 . The Encyclopedia of Global Human Migration. 4 February 2013 . . John Wiley & Sons, Inc. . 10.1002/9781444351071.wbeghm045 . 9781444334890. 25 March 2023 .
5. Hu-DeHart . Evelyn . López . Kathleen . Asian Diasporas in Latin America and the Caribbean: An Historical Overview . Department of Spanish and Portuguese . The Afro-Hispanic Review . . Nashville, Tennessee . Spring 2008 . 21 . 1 . 9–21 . 2118559 . 25 March 2023 .
6. Web site: Meet the 83-year-old reggae matriarch who brought Jamaican music to the world . . 23 March 2021 .
7. Web site: Miss Pat puts it on record . 23 March 2021 .
8. Web site: Trinidad and Tobago recognizes China's full market economy status . People's Daily Online . 2005-02-01.
9. Web site: Trinidad News, Trinidad Newspaper, Trinidad Sports, Trinidad politics, Trinidad and Tobago, Tobago News, Trinidad classifieds, Trinidad TV, Sports, Business . 2007-10-04 . https://web.archive.org/web/20080120095546/http://www.trinidadexpress.com/index.pl/article_business_mag?id=161210725 . 2008-01-20 . dead .
10. Book: Griffith . Ivelaw Lloyd . 2003 . Caribbean Security in the Age of Terror: Challenge and Change . Jamaica . Ian Randle Publishers . (361362) . 976-637-142-3 . 20 February 2022 .
11. Web site: 8 April 2003 . Lack of diplomacy! . 25 February 2022 . jamaica-gleaner.com . en.
12. Web site: Economic Reprisals Debated . . 13 April 2003 . 25 February 2022 . Hemlock . Doreen.
13. Web site: Otto Reich: A Career in Disservice . 13 July 2004 . . en-US . 25 February 2022 . dmy-all.
14. Book: Ribando, Clare M. . Article 98 Agreements and Sanctions on U.S. Foreign Aid to Latin America . 30 March 2006 . Political Science . . 152541482.
15. News: US calls off Barbados ban . 24 October 2008 . Tony . Best . 24 October 2008 . . https://web.archive.org/web/20070927185950/http://www.nationnews.com/story/296599452302703.php . 27 September 2007 .
16. News: The PRC Bets on Climate Diplomacy in the Caribbean. Ward. Jared. January 5, 2019. Jamestown Foundation. en-US. 2019-09-14.