Chinese Science Diplomacy in Global South: The Aerospace case in Argentina and Brazil

Abstract

Since the 2000s, China has become a global player in both economic and technological terms. From being an agrarian country in the 1970s, China is now a leader in cutting-edge technologies such as artificial intelligence, green technologies, 5G and nanotechnology. In contrast, Argentina and Brazil have experienced de-industrialisation and a re-primarisation of their economies, lagging behind in the technological race. China’s re-emergence has replaced traditional trade partners, such as the United States and European countries, and made China one of the region’s main investors. This growing economic interdependence has been accompanied by an expanding landscape of science diplomacy. This article analyses China’s science diplomacy in two of the most advanced South American countries: Argentina and Brazil. The research examines the bilateral agreements signed between Argentina and Brazil with China. Moreover, it discusses the cooperation in the aerospace sector analysing the case of the China–Brazil Earth Resources Satellites programme and the Bajada del Agrio Deep Space Antenna.