China is stepping up its commercial offensive in the Latin American military industry, offering low-cost weapons, soft loans, and promises of technology transfer. Its most recent attempt was to offer a fleet of fighter jets to reinforce the capabilities of the Colombian Air Force (FAC).
Experts warn, however, that this rhetoric of “South-South cooperation” comes with hidden risks that compromise the tactical operability and strategic autonomy of local armed forces.
“The risks for a country start with the basics: being tied to a system,” said Evan Ellis, research professor at the U.S. Army War College Strategic Studies Institute. “There are precedents [of Chinese weapons] in the region — such as the K-8 fighter jets sold to Venezuela and Bolivia, or the Z-9 helicopters delivered to Bolivia — with multiple deficiencies: poorly translated manuals that cause fatal errors, problems with access to maintenance and spare parts, and limitations in training,“ Ellis said, adding that this translated into “accidents, aircraft losses, and reduced tactical capability.”
A look at the regional background confirms this pattern. Venezuela, which began incorporating 27 Chinese Pakistani-made K-8W training and light attack aircraft in 2008, has seen its fleet depleted by accidents, with at least four K-8s crashing in 2022 alone, Spain-based news site Defensa reported.
The case in Venezuela was not unique. In Bolivia, a similar pattern emerged: of six K-8W aircraft purchased from China in 2011, two have already been lost in operational incidents. The first occurred in May 2021, and the most recent, in January 2023, was due to a sudden engine fire, InfoDefensa reported.
The case of Bolivia also illustrates another worrying aspect: corruption. In 2011, the government purchased six Harbin H425 helicopters for more than $100 million via a loan from Beijing. Years later, following a criminal complaint, the Attorney General’s Office opened an investigation into evidence of harmful contracts and misuse of influence, Fides News Agency reported.
The problems are not limited to aircraft. In Ecuador, the four air surveillance radars purchased in 2009 from the China Electronics Technology Group Corporation never worked or were integrated into the national system. The state terminated the contract in 2013 and recovered $39 million of the advance payment, Ecuadorian daily La República reported.
“Corruption is a key risk: overpricing, opaque processes, and acquisitions that do not meet international standards can lead to scandals and a loss of institutional legitimacy,” Ellis said. “There is an even more strategic risk: structural dependence on China for maintenance, training, and the supply of spare parts. This dependence can be used as a tool for political pressure.”
Argentina was another case of Beijing’s efforts to expand its military influence. Despite China’s intention to place the JF-17 with soft financing and promises of co-production, Buenos Aires opted to purchase from Denmark 24 U.S. made F-16s. In doing so, Argentina chose a platform that has a proven support chain.
“The case of Ukraine is illustrative,” Ellis said. “Before 2022, Ukraine had a close relationship with China […] But when Russia invaded, China did not lift a finger to help. It was a painful lesson about the kind of support Beijing really offers.”
In Colombia, caution prevailed. President Gustavo Petro announced that he will move forward with the purchase of the Saab 39 Gripen, manufactured in Sweden, Colombian daily El Tiempo reported. However, the episode made it clear that China has entered a new stage in its foray into regional security.
With two-thirds of Latin America within the Belt and Road Initiative, China is trying to use its industrial and military power to deepen alliances, a vehicle of dependence that ensures training, logistics, and after-sales service under Chinese parameters and anchors key capabilities to Beijing’s political and technological will.
Latin American armed forces, in short, face a momentous decision: give in to the temptation of cheap and abundant weaponry, or invest prudently in reliability and alliances that guarantee their long-term security, Ellis concluded.
