Episode 14: Sascha Hannig Núñez—A Latin American Perspective on China’s Growing Global Influence
Many international observers claim that the next hundred years of human history will belong to Asia, with American economist Joseph Stiglitz going so far as to declare that 2014 marked the start of the Chinese Century. While the discourse surrounding China’s global might centers around relations with the developed world, no corner of the globe has been left untouched by China’s growing influence. In this episode, Chilean researcher Sascha Hannig Nuñez shares with us her journey as she explores various themes of the China-Latin America relationship. From Chile-China relations in the 20th century to commentary on contemporary economic and political ties across the region, Sascha provides a unique point of view on the less frequently discussed ways in which China influences Latin America, and consequently the wider world.
Sascha Hannig Núñez is a Chilean researcher and novelist. Hannig’s research primarily focuses on finance, technology, and their intersections with human and civil rights. She is currently a Global Programs Coordinator at the Fundación para el Progreso, a Chile-based think tank focused on economics and civil liberties. Her primary areas of interest include political and economic engagement with China and East Asia. She graduated from the University of Adolfo Ibáñez with a degree in Journalism and Social Communication, with a minor in History and Economics of East Asia.
Content Highlights:
01:10 | What drew you to studying China and East Asia, as a Latin American and as a Chilean?
04:44 | How did Chileans perceive China when you began your studies?
10:05 | How were China and East Asia presented to you in the classroom?
16:25 | Chile on the ‘One China Policy’
18:40 | What is the current state of Chile-China relations? Compared to China-Latin America relations?
26:25 | Is Chile as vulnerable to the risks of Chinese FDI as the rest of Latin America?
31:26 | How do you see the triangular relationship between Latin America, China, and the U.S.?
35:53 | What can young people do to improve the relationships between our countries and the wider world?