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Chinese activities in Bolivia have deteriorated remarkably from their heyday under the populist leftist governments of Evo Morales and Luis Arce.
In May 2026, as Bolivia was paralyzed by protests seeking to topple the government of Rodrigo Paz, China’s ambassador to Bolivia, Wang Liang, was conspicuously silent about the crisis. While anti-government elements threw dynamite at police and maintained roadblocks that denied the entry of food, gasoline and even medical supplies into the capital, La Paz, Wang held an economic forum in the southern department of Tarija, ironically titled “Bolivia, into the world with China.”
From May 20-30, 2026, the author traveled to Bolivia, engaging with business, academic and government personnel on the evolution of the country’s relationship with China, among other topics. This work reflects insights from those engagements and supporting research.
Chinese activities in Bolivia have deteriorated remarkably from their heyday under the populist leftist governments of Evo Morales and Luis Arce, reflecting a myriad of projects tainted with corruption, poor performance and resistance by affected communities. Bolivia’s deepening economic, fiscal, and political crisis, and efforts by the Paz government to rebuild positive relations with the United States and other Western countries, have also limited China’s advance.
