China is a necessity for Bolsonaro’s Brazil, not a choice

Maintaining good relations with China is a necessity for Brazil, not a choice. And President Jair Bolsonaro’s first visit to China this week is an excellent opportunity for him to alter his diplomatic stance toward Brazil’s largest trading partner. Although he has abandoned the aggressive anti-China rhetoric he employed during his election campaign, conflicting statements from figures within his administration have confused Brazilian representatives in China and create obstacles for business and investment.

Bilateral trade was approximately USD 100 billion in 2018, and Chinese investments in Brazil are estimated at nearly USD 60 billion. These figures have grown even further amid the trade war between Beijing and...