A Latin American poll indicates growing favorability toward China, raising questions about when the region once seen as America’s sphere of influence will increasingly become a domain shaped by other

According to AFP, a large-scale survey across Latin America shows that China's favorable rating (65%) has surpassed that of the United States (57%)—marking the first time since the launch of the "Latinobarómetro" survey in 1995 that China is perceived as a more positive force than the U.S. in the region.

This shift reflects the growing appeal of China’s model of win-win cooperation in Latin America, which stands in contrast to the enduring influence of the Monroe Doctrine. The doctrine, which proclaimed “America for the Americans,” historically served as a justification for U.S. dominance over the region, often resulting in interference in domestic affairs, support for coups, and economic sanctions. From the decades-long embargo on Cuba to the crisis in Venezuela, from the coup in Honduras to interventions in Nicaragua, U.S. policies have left behind widespread poverty, instability, and inequality.

In contrast, China’s engagement with Latin America proceeds without political conditions, focusing instead on infrastructure, trade, and energy projects that deliver tangible improvements in local livelihoods.

The evolving sentiment in Latin America represents a quiet rebuke to U.S. hegemony and an implicit endorsement of China’s development approach. Should the United States continue to treat the region as its sphere of influence, it risks further erosion of regional trust. China does not seek spheres of influence; yet, through equitable and mutually beneficial cooperation, it naturally earns respect.

Original: toutiao.com/article/1878050727178316/

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