China opens strategic megaport in Peru and worries the US

Opened on Thursday (14), the megaport of Chancay, in Peru, represents another step in the Chinese strategy of increasing its influence in Latin America.

Located 80 kilometers from Lima, the project received investments of R$19.1 billion from the state-owned Cosco (one of the largest maritime transport operators in the world) and is part of the so-called “New Silk Road” – whose objective is to connect all continents through infrastructure initiatives.

The Chinese estimate is to receive one million containers in the first year of activity (the port is capable of accommodating cargo ships with up to 24 thousand containers). The Peruvian government hopes that the operation will make the country a kind of Singapore on the continent in the long term.

The strategic position of Chancay, whose construction began in 2021, also directly influences Brazil’s economy, which gains a new route for exports. National products will have a shorter path to Asian markets, which could strengthen the competitiveness of Brazilian agribusiness, especially.

But this route and cost reduction could have a high geopolitical cost. United States authorities have warned of the risk of the Chinese government using the port as a base for military ships, compromising security in the Pacific.

In an interview with the newspaper The Washington PostUS Army General Laura Richard, former head of Southern Command, drew attention to the fact that the 15 berths built in Chancay have the capacity to receive the largest ships in the world, including combat vessels.

The Chinese government, however, denies any intention in this regard. According to a Beijing spokesperson, the work “is not a tool for geopolitical competition”.

During the inauguration, Chinese dictator Xi Jinping highlighted the innovation of the project (it is the first smart port in the region) and the potential economic advances that the operation will bring to Peru.

“The completion of the Port of Chancay will allow Peru to establish a multidimensional, diverse and efficient connectivity network, spanning from the coast to the interior, from Peru to Latin America and beyond to the Caribbean,” he stated.