China–Costa Rica relations

China–Costa Rica relations

China
Costa Rica

Costa Rica was the first Latin American state to change from recognising the Republic of China (Taiwan) as the legitimate government of China, to the People's Republic of China (PRC), supporting their One China policy.

History

In June 2007, Costa Rica, motivated by the belief that recognising China would lead to increased foreign investment and economic growth, ended diplomatic relations with Taiwan, in favour of recognising the PRC as the true government of China.[1] Costa Rica was the first Latin American state to switch recognition, marking a "turning point" for China's involvement in the region.[2]

Military and policing

In 2016, China donated two Harbin Y-12 aircraft to Costa Rica's unofficial air force, the Air Vigilance Service.[3] A USD $25 million training facility for the Public Force of Costa Rica, the national police, was funded by China.[4][5] In 2021, 100 motorcycles, and 2,000 helmets and Kevlar vests were delivered by the PRC to Costa Rica.[6]

Trade and investment

See also: China-Costa Rica Free Trade Agreement

In 2007, Costa Rican President Óscar Arias requested that during a state visit to China that China fund a stadium for Costa Rica.[7]: 50  China financed and built the Estadio Nacional de Costa Rica, which it completed in March 2011.[7]: 50 

Costa Rica and China signed a free trade agreement in 2010.[8] In 2018, Costa Rica joined the Belt and Road Initiative.[9]

In 2021, Costa Rican exports to China were worth US$308 million, and Chinese foreign direct investment was worth US$600,000.[1]

Disputes

Chinese telecommunication company Huawei is the principal supplier to the Costa Rican Electricity Institute (ICE), accumulating a total of $266 million in contracts.[10] Huawei was previously fined for non-compliance with contractual obligations to ICE by the Costa Rican government.[11] In December 2024, Costa Rican president Rodrigo Chaves Robles filed a criminal complaint against Huawei and former ICE officials.[12]

According to an August 2023 decree on 5G network development, Costa Rica barred firms from all countries that have not signed the Budapest Convention on Cybercrime.[13][14] The decree affected Chinese firms like Huawei, as well as firms from South Korea, Russia and Brazil, among others.[13] China is pursuing legal action in response to the decree so that it can bid on government contracts in Costa Rica.[12]

In December 2024, Costa Rica and the U.S. issued a joint statement regarding cyber-intrusions into Costa Rican infrastructure originating from China.[12] The Chinese embassy in San Jose rejected allegations of cyber-intrusions.[15]

Bilateral meetings

In November 2008, the General Secretary of the Chinese Communist Party, Hu Jintao, visited Costa Rica, and alongside president Óscar Arias announced the launch of free trade negotiations.[16][17]

In July 2014, General Secretary of the Chinese Communist Party Xi Jinping met with Costa Rican president Luis Guillermo Solís in Brasília.[18]

In June 2022, Qiu Xiaoqi, the Special Representative of the Chinese Government on Latin American Affairs, visited Costa Rica. During Qiu's visit, he met with the president of Costa Rica, Rodrigo Chaves, and other key Costa Rican government figures.[19]

References

  1. ^ a b "Did Costa Rica's Decision to Recognize China Pay Off?". thediplomat.com. Archived from the original on 2023-07-19. Retrieved 2023-07-19.
  2. ^ Urcuyo, Constantino (2021-06-19). "Despite U.S. Pressure, China's Presence in Central America is Growing". Latinoamérica 21. Archived from the original on 2023-07-19. Retrieved 2023-07-19.
  3. ^ cronologia/-/meta/redaccion. "China dona dos aviones para combatir crimen organizado en Costa Rica". www.laprensa.hn (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 2023-07-19. Retrieved 2023-07-19.
  4. ^ "Project | china.aiddata.org". china.aiddata.org. Archived from the original on 2023-07-19. Retrieved 2023-07-19.
  5. ^ "China entrega a Costa Rica nueva Escuela Nacional de Policía | Spanish.xinhuanet.com". spanish.xinhuanet.com. Archived from the original on 2023-07-19. Retrieved 2023-07-19.
  6. ^ lectura, Comunicados··3 Minutos de (2021-02-22). "China dona a Costa Rica más de ₡3.000 millones en motocicletas y equipos para resguardar seguridad ciudadana". Presidencia de la República de Costa Rica (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 2023-07-19. Retrieved 2023-07-19.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  7. ^ a b Strange, Austin (2023-12-21). Chinese Global Infrastructure (EPUB). Elements in Global China. Cambridge University Press. doi:10.1017/9781009090902. ISBN 978-1-009-09090-2.
  8. ^ Cheng, Wenting (2023). China in Global Governance of Intellectual Property: Implications for Global Distributive Justice. Palgrave Socio-Legal Studies series. Palgrave Macmillan. p. 69. ISBN 978-3-031-24369-1.
  9. ^ Foster, Scott (2022-01-08). "Belt & Road encircles Latin America and the Caribbean". Asia Times. Archived from the original on 2023-07-19. Retrieved 2023-07-19.
  10. ^ "Huawei is already the No. 1 supplier to ICE - CentralAmericaData :: The Regional Business Portal". www.centralamericadata.com. Archived from the original on 2023-07-19. Retrieved 2023-07-19.
  11. ^ "PRC Engagement in Costa Rica | Centro de Estudios Estratégicos del Ejército del Perú". 2023-05-18. Archived from the original on 2023-07-19. Retrieved 2023-07-19.
  12. ^ a b c Suárez, Inés (2025-01-17). "Costa Rica ramps up cybersecurity measures amid report of malicious China-based actors". Entorno. Archived from the original on 2025-01-21. Retrieved 2025-10-07.
  13. ^ a b "Chinese embassy criticizes Costa Rica for 5G company restrictions". Reuters. 2023-10-13. Archived from the original on 15 October 2023. Retrieved 2023-10-17.
  14. ^ "Costa Rica Excludes China from 5G Tech Bidders". The Tico Times. 2023-09-08. Archived from the original on 27 September 2023. Retrieved 2023-10-17. The policy effectively disqualifies Chinese companies like Huawei from Costa Rica's upcoming 5G spectrum auction, as China has not signed the Budapest pact.
  15. ^ "Costa Rica and U.S. Jointly Identify Alleged Cyber Intrusions from China". The Tico Times. 2024-12-18. Archived from the original on 2025-01-02. Retrieved 2026-02-06.
  16. ^ "China FTA Network". fta.mofcom.gov.cn. Archived from the original on 2023-07-19. Retrieved 2023-07-19.
  17. ^ Colantuoni, Steve (2022-11-07). "The free trade agreement between Costa Rica and China". The Central American Group. Archived from the original on 2023-07-19. Retrieved 2023-07-19.
  18. ^ "Xi Jinping Meets with President Solís of Costa Rica". hr.china-embassy.gov.cn. Archived from the original on 2023-07-19. Retrieved 2023-07-19.
  19. ^ "Special Representative of the Chinese Government on Latin American Affairs Qiu Xiaoqi Visits Costa Rica". www.fmprc.gov.cn. Archived from the original on 2023-07-19. Retrieved 2023-07-19.
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