Inhistory,theinternalandforeignaffairsofLatinAmericanandCaribbeancountrieshavebeendeeplyinfluencedbytheUnitedStates,makingthemsomewhatdependentontheU.S.,withlimitedautonomy.Inrecentyears,astheworldhasacceleratedtowardsmultipolarity,thewaninginfluenceandcontroloftheUnitedStateshaveledLatinAmericanandCaribbeancountriestoawaken,withacontinuousincreaseintheirautonomy.Thistrendisparticularlyevidentin2023,manifestingintwomainaspects.Firstly,LatinAmericancountriesarepursuingdiversifiedandautonomousdiplomacy,witharisingtrendofdistancingfromorevenopposingtheUnitedStates.Thecurrent"PinkTide"inLatinAmerica,comparedtotheintenseanti-Americansentimentinthefirstwaveofthe"PinkTide"inthefirstdecadeofthiscentury,stillmaintainsacertaindistancefromtheUnitedStates,andinsomeissues,takesastanceexplicitlyagainsttheU.S.InmajoreventssuchastheUkrainecrisisandtheIsraeli-Palestinianconflict,LatinAmericancountriesresistU.S.pressureandadoptpositionsdifferentfromtheUnitedStates.ConflictsofinterestbetweenLatinAmericancountriesandtheUnitedStatesareontherise.Notonlythestronglyanti-AmericanradicalleftistcountrieslikeCuba,Venezuela,andNicaraguabutevenright-wing-ledcountriesliketheDominicanRepublicopenlysay"no"totheU.S.,citingissuessuchaslaborproblemsandHaitianimmigration.Long-timeU.S.allyColombiaopenlycontradictstheU.S.onbilateraltradeagreementsandanti-drugpolicies.BrazilianPresidentLulahasrepeatedlystatedtheintentiontosettletradewithChinainlocalcurrenciesandproposedthecreationofacommoncurrencyamongSouthernCommonMarket(MERCOSUR)countriestoresistthedominanceoftheU.S.dollar.Mexico'sconflictswiththeU.S.intensifyonimmigrationandtradeissues,andHonduras,despiteU.S.resistance,establishesdiplomaticrelationswithChinaandswiftlyarrangesapresidentialvisittoChina.CentralAmericanParliament,despiteU.S.pressure,revokestheso-called"legislativeobserver"statusoftheTaiwanregion's"LegislativeYuan"andacceptstheNationalPeople'sCongressofChinaasapermanentobserver.SalvadoranPresidentBukelefirmlyresistsU.S.criticismofitsso-called"dictatorialtendencies"and"democraticregression."Thisyearalsomarksthe200thanniversaryoftheimplementationoftheMonroeDoctrinebytheUnitedStates,withleadersofmanyLatinAmericancountriesopenlycriticizingthedoctrine.Additionally,LatinAmericanandCaribbeancountriesareactivelystrengtheningcooperationwithEuropeanandAsia-Pacificcountries,promotingdiversifieddiplomacy,andresistingU.S.interferenceandcontrol.WiththerapiddevelopmentofChina-LatinAmericarelations,ChinahasbecomeanimportantpartnerforLatinAmericancountries,andChina'svariousinitiativesandconceptshavereceivedstrongsupportfromLatinAmericancountries.Thisyear,breakingthroughU.S.suppression,LatinAmericancountriesfurtherstrengthenedcomprehensivecooperationwithChina,withleadersfrom10LatinAmericanandCaribbeancountriesvisitingChina,demonstratingtheirindependentandautonomousstance.Secondly,LatinAmericancountriesareenhancingunityandcooperation,andtherearenewdevelopmentsinregionalintegration,weakeningthePan-AmericansystemandstrengtheningtheconstructionofaLatinAmericansystem.Foralongtime,thePan-AmericansystemcenteredaroundtheOrganizationofAmericanStateshasbeenacrucialinstitutionalplatformforU.S.interventioninLatinAmericanaffairs.Inrecentyears,criticismandresistancetowardsthePan-AmericansystembyLatinAmericancountrieshavebecomeincreasinglyapparent.Forexample,inSeptember2022,manyLatinAmericancountriesrefusedtoparticipateinthe9thSummitoftheAmericastoprotestagainsttheU.S.notinvitingCuba,Venezuela,andNicaragua.Thisyear,regionalintegrationinLatinAmericahasshownanupwardtrend.AftertheLulagovernmenttookoffice,Brazilre-engagedwiththeCommunityofLatinAmericanandCaribbeanStates(CELAC),andoverallcooperationinLatinAmericareturnedtoanormaltrack.TheUnionofSouthAmericanNations(UNASUR)wasreactivated,andanewsummitwasheldinJune.TheSouthernCommonMarket(MERCOSUR)recentlyheldameeting,admittingBoliviaasafullmember.Toaddresscommonchallenges,MexicoconvenedmeetingsofregionalcountriesoninflationandimmigrationissuesinAprilandOctober.MexicanPresidentLopezObradorhasrepeatedlystatedthattheOrganizationofAmericanStatesshouldbedissolved,andformerArgentinePresidentFernandezhasalsoproposedrestructuringtheorganization.PoliticalChangesAccelerateEvolutionFromareformperspective,thepoliticalchangesinLatinAmericathisyearhaveaccelerated,highlightingpoliticalpolarizationandpartyfragmentation,withintenseideologicalstrugglesbetweenleftandright.Currently,mostcountriesaregovernedbytheleft,butright-wingforcesremainstrong,holdingswayincongressesorlocalgovernmentsandimposingconstraintsongovernmentadministration.Manygovernmentsfacedifficultiesinformulatingeffectivesolutionsinthefaceofpoliticalturmoilandeconomicdownturn,arousingstrongdissatisfactionamongthepeople,whoexpresstheirdispleasurebypunishingrulingpartiesthroughelections.Theeagernessforchangeamongthepeopleobjectivelypromotestheriseofanti-establishmentforces.Inseveralmajorelectionsthisyear,onlyParaguay'srulingpartyachievedconsecutiveterms,whileoppositionpartieswoninEcuador,Guatemala,andArgentina.AlthoughthestrugglebetweenleftandrightremainsaneffectiveperspectiveforanalyzingLatinAmericanpolitics,inmanycases,thetraditionalboundariesbetweenleftandrightarebecomingincreasinglyblurred,withatrendofmutualtransformationandintegration.Inadditiontotheleft-rightstruggle,disputesbetweentheexecutiveandlegislativebranchesandbetweencentralandregionalgovernmentshavealsobecomeprominent.Forexample,thePeruvianparliamentimpeachedthen-PresidentCastillomultipletimeslastyear,leadingtohisremovalfromoffice,andtherelationshipwithcurrentPresidentBorjaisalsotense.FormerPresidentCorreaofEcuadorannouncedthedissolutionofthecongressandearlyelectionsinMayunderthe"cross-death"decree.TheSantaCruzprovinceofBoliviahashadalong-standingstrainedrelationshipwiththecentralgovernment,andattheendoflastyear,theprovincialgovernorCamachowasarrested,triggeringlarge-scaleproteststhisyear.Suchturmoiliscloselyrelatedtothespecificpoliticalecologyofeachcountry,presentingdifferentfacetsbutstillshowingcertaincommonalities.LatinAmericancountriesareinaperiodoftransition,exploringnewpathsofdevelopmentandgovernancemodels.Theseupheavalsreflectthedifficultiesandchallengesofthistransformation.Sincethelate1970s,thepoliticalsystemofrepresentativedemocracyandseparationofpowershasbecomethemainstreamchoiceforLatinAmericancountries.Whileelectionsandpowertransitionsproceedorderly,thedrawbacksoflowdemocraticqualityandineffectivegovernancehavebecomeevident.Whetheritisthetraditionalleft-winggovernancemodelortheright-winggovernancemodelfollowingneoliberalism,theystruggletoaddressthevariouscrisescurrentlyfaced.ThisobjectivelyrequiresLatinAmericancountriestorethinktherelationshipbetweenadministrationandlegislation,governmentandsociety,andgovernmentandthemarket.Afterassumingoffice,SalvadoranPresidentBukelehasbeendedicatedtostrengtheningtheexecutivepowerofthepresidentandimprovingthegovernanceefficiencyofthegovernment.DespitebeingcriticizedbytheUnitedStatesfor"democraticregression,"hisachievementsincombatingcorruptionandtacklinggangshavebeensignificant,maintaininghighapprovalratings.The"Bukelemodel"canbeseenasatypicalexampleofLatinAmericancountriesreshapingthepowersofadministrationandlegislationwithintheframeworkofdemocracy.Intheeconomicfield,MexicoandChilehaveincreasedthedegreeofnationalizationoflithiumresources,andothercountrieshavestrengthenedtheroleofthegovernmentineconomicdevelopment.ThesecasescanbeseenasinstancesofLatinAmericancountriesredefiningtherelationshipbetweenthegovernmentandthemarket.Inadditiontoseekingreformondomesticagendas,LatinAmericancountriesareactivelypromotingthetransformationoftheglobalgovernancesystem.Aftertakingoffice,Lulaattachedimportancetorelationswithdevelopingcountries,activelypromotedtheexpansionofBRICS,andrepeatedlyproposedtheabolitionoftheU.S.dollarhegemony.FacedwithArgentina'sdebtproblem,manyLatinAmericancountriessupportedArgentinaindebtrestructuringandcriticizedtheaidmodelledbytheInternationalMonetaryFund(IMF).FragileeconomiesinCentralAmericaandtheCaribbeanproposedreplacingthecurrentcriterionofpercapitaincomewitha"fragilityindex"forinternationalaid.Inthefieldofclimatechange,Lulaspecificallycriticizeddevelopedcountriesfornotfulfillingtheirresponsibilities,andcountriesinCentralAmericaandtheCaribbeanalsohopedtoreformexistingmechanismstoobtainmorecompensationfunds.MutualLearningandProgresswithChinaIn2023,China-LatinAmericarelationscontinuedtooperateatahighlevel,withfrequenthighlights.Againstthebackdropoftheriseofthe"GlobalSouth,"theexchangeandmutuallearningbetweenChinese-stylemodernizationand"LatinAmerican-stylemodernization"havetakenplace,bringingChina-LatinAmericarelationstoanewlevel.Firstly,top-leveldiplomaticexchangeshaveguidedthedirection,upgradingbilateralrelations.In2023,high-levelexchangesbetweenChinaandLatinAmericahaveattractedattention.Leadersfromtencountries,includingBrazil,Honduras,Argentina,Chile,Colombia,Venezuela,Barbados,Suriname,Cuba,andUruguay,visitedChina.PresidentXiJinpingmetwithMexicanPresidentLopezandPeruvianPresidentBorjainSanFrancisco,USA.Thefrequenttop-leveldiplomacyhasplayedanimportantguidingroleinthedevelopmentofbilateralrelations.Inaddition,China'scircleoffriendsinLatinAmericacontinuestoexpand.HondurasestablisheddiplomaticrelationswithChinaandarrangedapresidentialvisitwithinlessthanthreemonthsofestablishingdiplomaticties.ChinaandVenezuelaupgradedtheirbilateralrelationstoacomprehensivestrategicpartnership,establishedstrategicpartnershipswithColombiaandNicaragua,andestablishedacomprehensivestrategicpartnershipwithUruguay.Moreover,undertheframeworkofbuildingaChina-LatinAmericacommunitywithasharedfuture,ChinadeepenedcooperationwithCuba.Secondly,in-depthmutuallearninginmodernization,andgovernanceandpolicyexchangeshavebecomenewgrowthpoints.Sincethe20thNationalCongressoftheCommunistPartyofChina,Chinese-stylemodernizationhasbecomeahottopicglobally.TopromotemutuallearningandexchangesbetweenChinaandLatinAmericainmodernization,governanceandpolicyexchangeshavebecomeincreasinglyactive.InMarchofthisyear,theCommunistPartyofChinahostedtheWorldPoliticalPartiesHigh-LevelDialogue,withtheactiveparticipationofpoliticalpartiesfrommanyLatinAmericancountries.InApril,the5thChina-PeruPartyTheoreticalSymposiumwasheldinBeijing.InJuly,the3rdChina-LatinAmericaPovertyReductionandDevelopmentForumwasheld.Thirdly,economicandtraderelationsoperateatahighlevel,andcooperationonfreetradeagreementsissteadilyadvancing.AccordingtostatisticsfromtheGeneralAdministrationofCustomsofChina,thetradevolumebetweenChinaandLatinAmericareached2.835trillionyuanfromJanuarytoOctober2023,a6%increasefromthesameperiodlastyear.Intermsofinvestment,ChinesecompaniesactivelyinvestinLatinAmerica,especiallyinnewenergyandthedigitaleconomy.Topromotetradedevelopment,ChinaandLatinAmericaactivelypromotetheprocessoffreetradeagreementcooperation.OnMay11th,ChinaandEcuadorformallysignedafreetradeagreement.FromMay30thtoJune2nd,thefifthroundofnegotiationsfortheChina-PeruFreeTradeAgreementupgradewasheldinBeijing.OnJuly4th,ChinaandHonduraslaunchednegotiationsonafreetradeagreement.OnAugust31st,ChinasignedafreetradeagreementwithNicaragua,makingNicaraguathefifthfreetradepartnerofChinaintheLatinAmericanregion.Inaddition,ChinainitiatedfreetradeagreementnegotiationswithElSalvadorlastyear,andnegotiationsonafreetradeagreementwithUruguayarealsounderway.Fourthly,thedeepeningofthe"BeltandRoad"initiative,andthedevelopmentofcooperationareimprovinginqualityandefficiency.FollowingHondurasjoiningthe"BeltandRoad"initiativethisyear,22countriesinLatinAmericaandtheCaribbeanhavesignedcooperationdocumentswithChina.CountriessuchasCuba,Argentina,Chile,andUruguayhavesignedspecificcooperationplanswithChina.LatinAmericancountriesactivelyparticipatedinthethirdBeltandRoadInternationalCooperationSummitForum.ChileanPresidentparticipatedintheforumforthreeconsecutivetimes.Undertheframeworkofthe"BeltandRoad"initiative,aidprojectsandmarketcooperationprojectsareadvancingsimultaneously,withlandmarklargeprojectsand"smallbutbeautiful"projectscomplementingeachother,bringingtangiblebenefitstothepeopleinLatinAmerica.AsofSeptemberthisyear,Chinahasimplementedmorethan200infrastructureprojectsinLatinAmerica,includingseveralthousandkilometersofroads,railways,lightrails,over100schools,hospitals,stadiums,nearlyahundredbridges,tunnels,dozensofairports,ports,andmorethan30powerstationsandpowerplants,providingnearlyamillionjobopportunitieslocally.Fifthly,in-depthinternationalcooperation,andthe"voiceoftheSouth"isbecominglouder.BothChinaandLatinAmericancountriesaredevelopingcountries,andtheyhavebroadconsensusandcommoninterestsindealingwithinternationalhotspots,globalchallenges,andpromotingthereformoftheglobalgovernancesystem.ChinaandBrazilcloselycoordinateundertheframeworkofBRICS,supportingcountrieslikeArgentinatojointheBRICSfamily.LatinAmericancountriesactivelysupportthe"ThreeGlobalInitiatives,"withmanycountriesjoiningthe"FriendsoftheGlobalDevelopmentInitiative"group.OnhotspotissuessuchastheUkrainecrisisandtheIsraeli-Palestinianconflict,bothsideshaveactivelyconsultedandreachedextensiveconsensus.Onissuessuchasclimatechangeanddebtrelief,ChinaactivelysupportsthepositionsofLatinAmericancountries,supportsBrazil'sbidtohostthe30thConferenceofthePartiestotheUnitedNationsFrameworkConventiononClimateChangein2025,andsupportsLatinAmericanfragileeconomiesinestablishinga"climatecompensationfund,"amongotherdemands,urgingdevelopedcountriestoprovidemorefundsandtechnicalsupporttodevelopingcountries.TheautonomousreformsinLatinAmericaandthemutuallearningandprogresswithChinaaremutuallyreinforcingandmutuallypromoting.ItispreciselybecauseoftheincreasingautonomyandthedriveforreforminLatinAmericathatthesecountriespaymoreattentiontoChina,hopingtoshareopportunitiesandlearnfromChineseexperiencestobetteradvancetheirdomesticanddiplomaticagendas.Conversely,themutuallearningandprogressinChina-LatinAmericarelationswillfurtherpromotetheautonomyandreforminLatinAmerica.Inthecontextofthedeepevolutionofthecentury-longchanges,ChinaandLatinAmericancountries,asmembersofthe"GlobalSouth,"willonlyhavemorecommoninterests,closercommonpositions,andagreatercommonmission.In2024,Brazilwillhostthe20thG20Summit,PeruwillhosttheAsia-PacificEconomicCooperation(APEC)Leaders'InformalMeeting,andtheChina-LatinAmericaForumwillcelebrateitstenthanniversary.LatinAmericawillattractmoreglobalattention.Ibelievethatinthecomingyear,withthefrequentoccurrenceofthe"LatinAmericanmoment,"China-LatinAmericarelationswillreachnewheights.Editor:DisclaimerTheviewsandopinionsexpressedinthisarticlearethoseoftheauthor's,GMW.cnmakesnorepresentationsastoaccuracy,suitability,orvalidityofanyinformationonthissiteandwillnotbeliableforanyerrors,omissions,ordelaysinthisinformation.