Decoupling between China and Latin America? The Competition and Containment of the US against China in the Energy Field in Latin America under the Sino-US Game

In recent years, the battlefield of Sino-US competition and confrontation has been extended to other countries and regions. The US has always regarded Latin America as its “backyard” and its traditional sphere of influence. In the past two decades, China-Latin America relations have experienced sustained and rapid development, and China has become a dominant force and major influence in Latin America. Since Trump, the US government has continuously interfered in the development of China-Latin America relations, re-announced the “Monroe Doctrine” and maintained its hegemonic status in the Americas. And the US has taken various measures to interfere in China-Latin America relations. Energy relations are the new focus of China-Latin America relations and also the focus of US intervention. Therefore, this paper will explore the strategic competition and containment strategies of the US against China in the energy sector in Latin America since 2017 under Trump and Biden. The research identifies the US’s direct intervention measures, such as diplomatic pressure, economic sanctions, and public diplomacy campaigns, as well as indirect competitive strategies like financial incentives, multilateral alliances, and technical assistance. However, the energy sector’s vitality and the mutual benefits it offers have positioned Latin America as more than just a field for Sino-US competition. There is still space for continued and expanded China-Latin America cooperation.