China places Eduardo Galeano and his classic work at the center of the trade war with the United States

By Leonardo Attuch, editor of Brasil 247

April 16, 2025

In a move laden with historical and political symbolism, the spokesperson for China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Lin Jian, invoked the masterpiece of Uruguayan journalist Eduardo Galeano — Open Veins of Latin America — to counter recent remarks by U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent. During a visit to Argentina, Bessent accused China of engaging in “predatory” investment practices in the Global South, especially in Latin America, alleging that Beijing was taking control of mineral resources in exchange for unsustainable debt. China’s response was forceful: “The open veins of Latin America were caused by the plunder and historical domination by the United States, which has no moral authority to criticize cooperation between China and Latin American countries.”

By referencing Galeano — even indirectly — the Chinese government not only defended its international investment strategy but also took an ideological stance at the heart of the geopolitical rivalry between the traditional Western power and the rising force of the East. Instead of delivering a purely technocratic rebuttal, Lin Jian appealed to the realm of collective historical memory, evoking centuries of colonial plunder, U.S.-backed coups, and neoliberal policies imposed by financial institutions under American control.

This Chinese gesture, made during Donald Trump’s second term, reveals far more than just a trade dispute. It is a war of narratives. On one side, the United States seeks to maintain its historical influence in Latin America through the worn rhetoric of defending “democracy” and the “free market.” On the other, China positions itself as a strategic partner to the Global South, offering investments in infrastructure, technology, and energy — wrapped in a discourse of mutual respect, non-intervention, and reciprocal benefit.

The choice of Galeano as an implicit reference is particularly powerful. His classic book, published in 1971, inspired generations of intellectuals and exposed the historical imperialism that drained the region’s wealth for the benefit of northern powers. It was banned by military dictatorships and became a symbol of the struggle for sovereignty and social justice. By bringing this work into the spotlight of today’s global dispute, Chinese diplomacy not only challenges the American narrative but also stakes a legitimate claim to Latin America’s political soul.

In these turbulent times, China appears to understand that in the global race for resources and influence, winning hearts and minds is just as important as g trade deals. And by reminding the world that it was imperialism that opened Latin America’s veins, Beijing takes a bold step in consolidating its symbolic, ideological, and strategic leadership in the Global South.