From May 2024 to September 2025, Ziyi Guo, a Ph.D. student from the Institute of International and Regional Studies at Tsinghua University in China, will be a visiting researcher at ICLAC. We spoke with him to learn more about his research, his experience in Chile, and his perspective on China's impact on Latin America. Here’s what he shared with us.
Name and Occupation…
Ziyi Guo. Ph.D. student at the Institute of International and Regional Studies (IIAS) at Tsinghua University.
What is your Ph.D. thesis about?
My research focuses on the socio-environmental impacts of Chinese and international investments on indigenous and local communities in Latin American countries, especially those in the "Lithium Triangle."
Due to the global energy transition and the rapid growth in lithium demand, the Lithium Triangle attracts investments worldwide. However, the socio-environmental impacts affecting indigenous peoples and local communities are often ignored, leading to social conflicts. Given China's increasing influence on the continent and in the green energy sector, companies need to develop principles and measures to regularly mitigate these negative impacts.
If you had to summarize your research in one sentence (or question)…
How do international lithium investors mitigate negative socio-environmental impacts on indigenous and local communities through appropriate strategies and measures?
What do you expect from your visit to Chile?
I hope to have the opportunity to interact with Chilean and/or international experts in relevant fields and to understand the lives of the northern Chilean communities affected by socio-environmental impacts.
If you had to summarize the impact of China on Latin America, you would say…
I believe the impact can be divided into two parts. On the positive side, China truly offers a second option for Latin American countries that wish to benefit from industrialization or even promote their modernization. Economically, it is easier to negotiate with China than with other Western countries, especially for developing countries, if one learns their way of doing things. Additionally, there is no historical conflict between the two regions. For a country with such a historical burden, this is an unusual opportunity.
On the other hand, there is a lack of exchanges and in-depth understanding between both sectors, which can lead to possible estrangements. For example, changes in the ruling party in Latin American countries have resulted in unstable policies toward China, as seen in Argentina currently, which can undermine Chinese investment confidence. However, political shifts are very normal in Latin America. For instance, some Chinese companies lack experience in dealing with local communities, leading to social conflicts. It is unfair that the media entirely blame the country, but it is not easy to remove this type of prejudice.
Favorite place in Chile so far…
The sunrise in Punta Arenas and the fresh wind have stayed in my memory since March, and I hope to have the opportunity to visit this beautiful city again.
What book are you reading?
A popular history book called «Tales of the Ming Dynasty».