Castro Ruiz, Julissa Raquel
ABSTRACT: The present study analyses the development of the interaction between the United States and China in
Mexico, Ecuador, and Honduras. As the uncontested regional influence of Latin America, the United States has shaped
the region for almost a century. China, on the other hand, has become a more prominent figure in the last decades. The
Thesis will go into detail about the three countries, tracing their history with both the United States and China, looking
into ideological and political similarities and disparities, and well focusing on the economic and trade relations between
the nations. The economic factors have created a dependency on the US however with its growing presence in these
countries China has dedicated million to the development of these countries. The Mexico chapter evaluates the benefits
of having a relationship with the US given its proximity can have. Mexico's trade with the United States overlaps with
that of China, leading to a competitive relationship between them. Ecuador is a country that has been involved in legal
battles against the US and its long history of left-leaning president has made them more inclined to China. Ecuador has
created a trade and investment framework that protects its national sovereignty and state interest as well as
encourages Chinese investment. While it still has relations with the United States, its government doesn’t rely solely on
it. Honduras a country has just recently switched alliances to China. The Honduras chapter explores the ties between the
nationalist party in Honduras with the United States as well as how the current liberal party's left-leaning policies and
actions will impact the country in the long run. By having countries that fall in different areas of the spectrum, one end
being the United States and the other China we can deduce how these countries will interact with both countries while
preserving their national sovereignty and putting their state interest over regional proximity or influence.
