Challenges for SICA in the Latin American context:

China, the Pacific Alliance and CELAC

Abstract

ANALYZES THE CHINESE PRESENCE, THE FORMATION OF THE PA AND THE CREATION OF CELAC AS CHALLENGES BUT ALSO OPPORTUNITIES FOR SICA. THE GROWING CHINESE PRESENCE HIGHLIGHTS THE DIPLOMATIC TENSION BETWEEN TAIWAN AND MAINLAND CHINA TO MAINTAIN THEIR INFLUENCE IN THE REGION. THE PACIFIC ALLIANCE REPRESENTS A PRAGMATIC REGIONALISM WHERE ECONOMIC LIBERALIZATION AND INTEGRATION ARE THE FORTE. THE CONSOLIDATION OF CELAC COULD BE ANALYZED AS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THE CONVERGENCE OF POSITIONS AT THE CENTRAL AMERICAN LEVEL.