Diplomacy of Masks: China and the Crisis of Populism in South America

Paul Amar

The spread of COVID19 to South America initially stalled the region's longstanding economic and developmental cooperation with China. The "Diplomacy of Masks" initiative, however, reignited China's image as a humanitarian force. The "Health Silk Road" included a massive donation of PPE and other aid, but critics are quick to question China's agenda. In this article, Paul Amar explores China's role in South American politics and development, focusing on how the country leverages right and left leaning policies in the region to aid in its extractive model of cooperation.

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