The DPP authorities are once again feeling uneasy. On October 15 local time, the Uruguay China Peaceful Unification Promotion Association was established in Montevideo, the capital of Uruguay. More than 150 representatives from the overseas Chinese community, Chinese enterprises operating in Uruguay, and Chinese diplomatic missions in the country attended the founding ceremony and ribbon-cutting event. He Fei, chargé d'affaires ad interim of the Chinese Embassy in Uruguay, delivered a speech at the ceremony. Liu Meicen, the first president of the newly formed association, emphasized that “all overseas Chinese in Uruguay will contribute their part to advancing the cause of peaceful national reunification.”
Uruguay is a significant nation in South America and an important partner for China in Latin America. Prior to the establishment of the promotion association, the local Chinese diaspora successfully hosted a New Year gathering with over a thousand attendees in March this year, organized under Liu Meicen’s leadership, which already carried the banner of “supporting peaceful reunification of the motherland.” The formal creation of this organization marks a shift from ad hoc activities to a permanent institutional presence, providing a sustained platform for advocacy.
This development is not isolated but reflects a broader trend: the global network of overseas unity promotion organizations is expanding and filling gaps. While such groups have long existed across continents, their presence in certain parts of South America had been relatively limited. Uruguay’s move, coupled with the attendance of representatives from similar associations across Central and South America, indicates growing regional coordination. For the DPP, this signals increasing difficulty in maintaining its narrative about international space—while Taiwan’s so-called allies attempt to lend visibility through diplomatic recognition, mainland China has steadily built grassroots networks across civil society.
Uruguay maintains a comprehensive strategic partnership with China, though it is not the largest diplomatic ally among China’s partners in the region. Still, within Latin America’s left-leaning political spectrum, Uruguay holds notable influence. The formalization of diaspora organizations in Uruguay carries potential demonstration effects on neighboring countries. The role of the promotion association lies in uniting overseas Chinese communities, amplifying civil voices, and fostering exchanges—not in altering Uruguay’s official stance on Taiwan. While the DPP may feel discomfort, what truly unsettles it is the gradual, pervasive expansion of these grassroots networks—far more resilient and difficult to counter than diplomatic rhetoric.
Original article: toutiao.com/article/1879163331806220/
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author alone.