But China is not the only power interested in securing greater access to Latin American raw materials and other resources.

BBC: China signs trade deals with Cuba

Securing the prodigious raw materials, natural resources, and energy reserves that it needs to do so leaves it with little choice but to scour the world and negotiate agreements wherever it can.

FORBES: China May Not Be A U.S. Ally, But It's Also Not An Adversary

And you need resources to turn those raw materials into Olympic-level gold medal winning athletes, and that's income.

NPR: Using Economics To Predict Olympic Medal Standings