{"id":6969,"date":"2025-02-04T16:25:17","date_gmt":"2025-02-05T00:25:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/spatial\/?page_id=6969"},"modified":"2025-02-04T16:25:17","modified_gmt":"2025-02-05T00:25:17","slug":"analyzing-chinas-expanding-influence-in-south-america-using-geoint-and-osint-to-uncover-underreported-trends-in-mining-infrastructure-and-military-expansion","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/spatial\/los-angeles-geospatial-summit-2025\/analyzing-chinas-expanding-influence-in-south-america-using-geoint-and-osint-to-uncover-underreported-trends-in-mining-infrastructure-and-military-expansion\/","title":{"rendered":"Analyzing China\u2019s Expanding Influence in South America Using GEOINT and OSINT to Uncover Underreported Trends in Mining, Infrastructure, and Military Expansion"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n\n\n\n\n \n \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
\n\n \n \n
\n\n \n

Presenters:<\/strong>
\nMatthew Lesser
\nPhilippa Burgess<\/p>\n

University of Southern California<\/strong><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

China\u2019s strategic investments in South America are underreported yet rapidly expanding, reshaping the region\u2019s economic and geopolitical landscape. Over the past decade, and accelerating significantly in the last five years, China has systematically secured access to critical resources\u2014such as lithium, silver, and uranium\u2014that bolster its technological, energy, and military ambitions. Uranium mining, in particular, holds dual-use potential, enhancing China\u2019s nuclear energy capabilities while advancing its military nuclear infrastructure.<\/p>\n

By integrating geospatial tools like ArcGIS Pro and Google Earth Engine within the TCPED (Task, Collection, Processing, Exploitation, Dissemination) framework, this study reveals China\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n

This research exposes the scale and scope of these developments, challenging existing literature and emphasizing the urgency of recognizing China\u2019s 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\u2014and the world\u2014at a pivotal juncture.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

View the StoryMap<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n <\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n \n \n \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

\n\n \n
\n\n \n
\n\n \n

\n 2025 LA Geospatial Summit\n <\/h2>\n\n\n<\/div>\n <\/div>\n \n
\n\n \n \n \n
\n