Isabel Bernhard , an MSc candidate in Latin American Studies at the University of Oxford and a graduate of Harvard College, wrote in his article published in The Diplomat: "Ultimately, Latin American governments’ active non-alignment with China may be both the most developmentally sound policy and the most difficult to implement amidst domestic political constraints."

The expert said faced with enhanced Chinese outreach in the coming years, Latin American leaders have the options of active non-alignment, collaboration with, or explicit disinterest in China.

She said: "Given that recent challenges to CCP governance have subsided, in 2021 the CCP will likely emphasize a more expansive and interventionist foreign policy."

She said: "Just as critically, Latin America has symbolic and strategic value to Chinese foreign policy as it seeks to compete with the United States."