The competition for global technological leadership has become a strategic focus, with China seeking to consolidate its influence in sectors such as 5G networks, artificial intelligence (AI), electronic warfare, and digital control. This expansion, backed by aggressive state policy, raises concerns about its direct implications for security and stability in Latin America.
Reports from a range of international sources — including the European Council on Foreign Relations (ECFR) and the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI) — note that Beijing has systemized electronic warfare and cyber defense capabilities through a strategy of civil-military fusion.
According to experts, China is seeking to develop cyber and space interdiction systems, such as satellites with the ability to interfere with and create false targets, as well as systems capable of disabling enemy communications or radar. This strategy is supported by China’s increasing investments in digital infrastructure abroad, which includes 5G networks, submarine fiber optic cables, data centers, and satellite navigation systems. There is concern about the potential use of these technologies for surveillance or censorship in recipient countries.
Esteban Jiménez, head of technology at Costa Rican cybersecurity firm Atticyber, told Diálogo that the deployment of 5G in Latin America is limited by the need to apply international security standards in the supply chain. “There are regulations such as ISO 28000, which establish criteria for telecommunications components and cells,” he said, warning that “Chinese equipment does not meet these technical requirements.”
Critical infrastructure and technological sovereignty
U.S. think tank Council on Foreign Relations (CFR) has documented the participation of Chinese companies in 5G networks and digital projects in countries such as Brazil, Mexico, and Peru, despite warnings about the risks associated with the use of Huawei equipment. These investments are geared toward strategic infrastructure such as AI, smart cities, and surveillance systems.
Other Chinese companies such as ZTE, Hikvision, and Dahua have installed telecommunications and video surveillance systems in Argentina, Brazil, and Ecuador, consolidating their presence through partnerships with regional distributors. According to international non-profit organization Access Now, which focuses on digital civil rights, this infrastructure poses significant risks to privacy, data protection, and digital sovereignty.
The lack of transparency in some of these deals has led to controversy. In February, the Guatemalan Social Security Institute signed an agreement with a local Huawei distributor to implement an “integrated cyber recovery solution.” The company “offered an additional discount to secure the contract,” Guatemalan daily La Hora reported.
According to Jiménez, China promotes regulatory flexibility through direct links with national leaders, with serious visible consequences. “In Costa Rica, the Costa Rican Electricity Institute was involved in a case that led to the dismissal of several senior executives for their ties with Huawei in regulated and prohibited activities,” he said. “Following the incident, the government imposed restrictions on the company in public procurement.”
Space cooperation and dual use
China has strengthened its space presence in Latin America through both diplomatic and technological initiatives. In April 2024, Beijing organized the first China-Latin America and Caribbean Space Cooperation Forum. It also promoted the creation of the BRICS Joint Space Cooperation Committee, in which Brazil participates as a founding member, for the exchange of satellite data.
China’s space infrastructure in the region has also raised concerns about its dual use. Beijing’s largest non-domestic space station is in Argentina’s Patagonian desert and is part of its Deep Space Network. Beijing also maintains stations in Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, and Venezuela. The lack of transparency in the agreements raises questions about their dual civil and military use.
For Jiménez, many countries have lost sight of the technical focus in the evaluation of sensitive technologies. “These decisions must go through specialized and independent committees. When they become politicized, the security and integrity of national infrastructure is compromised.”
Electronic warfare and hemispheric projection
According to the Financial Times, China has developed AI-based electronic warfare systems capable of detecting and neutralizing threats without human intervention. These “cognitive weapons” interfere with radar, block communications, and alter the enemy’s electromagnetic environment, anticipating their response.
Think tank Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) has reported that China has installed electronic listening stations in Cuba with the capacity to intercept communications in neighboring countries. These operations are in line with its spectrum control doctrine, which combines electronic warfare and psychological operations.
This electronic warfare, which uses the electromagnetic spectrum to interfere with, protect, or exploit communication systems, is now a core operational capability. Argentina’s Espacio Lejano Station located in the province of Neuquén, is operated by the China Satellite Launch and Tracking Control General, a sub-entity of the People’s Liberation Army, and provides coverage over the entire Southern Hemisphere.
In Venezuela, Beijing is financing stations at the Capitán Manuel Ríos Air Base, managed by the China Great Wall Industry Corporation, with direct connection to its satellite network, The Washington Post reported. In addition, Argentine daily La Nación reported an increase in the number of ports under China’s control in the region, which could complete its logistical and technological capabilities.
The region is highly vulnerable. “In many cases, technologies are integrated before adequate regulation is in place, when the opposite should be the case: Clear rules should be established before implementation,” Jiménez concluded. “Latin America is one of the regions least prepared to deal with incidents or attacks related to these technologies.”
