I have not been keeping an eye on what is happening in South America as the western press are pretty dismissive of the world outside global capitalism. Whether China fits into that category is a moot point and what I’ve seen of intervention in African countries it can seem like neo-colonialism. However a report in Al-Jazeera shows Hugo Chavez and Evo Morales watching the launch of a satellite which the Chinese have launched on behalf of Venezuela to enhance the country’s telecommunication capability..

The report highlights other technological advances, including cheap mobile phones and computing equipment. In return Venezuela supplies oil to China helping the development of refineries. The Chinese are looking at an area of Venezuela where there are believed to be oil reserves in excess of those held by the United States.