ABSTRACT
Over the last few decades, the presence of the People’s Republic of China in the insular Caribbean has gradually changed in nature and form, with varying modalities and intensities from one State to another. Beijing is asserting itself while at the same time diversifying, particularly in the countries of the Caricom group close to the United States (Bahamas, Jamaica) or in territories rich in natural resources such as Trinidad and Tobago. At the regional level, the case of Cuba is particular. A review of six decades of Chinese foreign policy reveals that, since 1959, Sino-Cuban relations have clearly been marked by highly political considerations. This characteristic distinguishes them significantly from the links that Beijing has with most other Caribbean territories, and which are based primarily on economic and commercial development.
