Presenters:
Matthew Lesser
Philippa Burgess
University of Southern California
China’s strategic investments in South America are underreported yet rapidly expanding, reshaping the region’s economic and geopolitical landscape. Over the past decade, and accelerating significantly in the last five years, China has systematically secured access to critical resources—such as lithium, silver, and uranium—that bolster its technological, energy, and military ambitions. Uranium mining, in particular, holds dual-use potential, enhancing China’s nuclear energy capabilities while advancing its military nuclear infrastructure.
By integrating geospatial tools like ArcGIS Pro and Google Earth Engine within the TCPED (Task, Collection, Processing, Exploitation, Dissemination) framework, this study reveals China’s comprehensive strategy. Massive investments in mining, seaports, railways, and energy infrastructure facilitate resource extraction under the pretext of development, often creating economic dependencies through predatory lending. These efforts come at a severe cost to sovereignty, environmental sustainability, and human rights, with local communities and workers bearing the brunt of exploitation and unsafe conditions.
This research exposes the scale and scope of these developments, challenging existing literature and emphasizing the urgency of recognizing China’s Belt and Road Initiative as a deliberate, far-reaching geopolitical strategy. These findings demand greater scrutiny, as they reshape power dynamics while placing South America—and the world—at a pivotal juncture.
