- Chinese presence has increased across the Caribbean Parts of the Kingdom of the Netherlands (CPKNL), but this should not be conflated with Chinese state influence, for which the report finds limited evidence.
- The main geopolitical vulnerabilities of the CPKNL stem from structural dependencies on external actors in areas such as imports, energy, digital infrastructure, logistics and security.
- The small scale and concentrated markets of the island economies mean that even limited foreign involvement can create dependencies in critical sectors.
- Strengthening geopolitical resilience requires closer cooperation within the Kingdom, reduced strategic dependencies, more resilient infrastructure and stronger coordination on economic security and geopolitical risks.
This report was originally published by the China Knowledge Network on 6 October 2026.
Political and policy attention in the Netherlands for China’s role in the Caribbean parts of the Kingdom of the Netherlands (CPKNL) has increased in recent years. Questions have emerged regarding foreign influence, critical infrastructure, economic dependency and geopolitical vulnerability in the region. Global geopolitical tensions, particularly between the United States and China, have contributed to growing concern about the strategic position of small island economies in the Caribbean basin.
This report examines the extent to which Chinese economic and political influence in the CPKNL has developed and how these developments relate to the geopolitical resilience and economic security of the islands. The research is based on qualitative fieldwork, interviews and desk research conducted between January and May 2026 across Aruba, Bonaire, Curaçao and Sint Maarten.
The report distinguishes explicitly between Chinese presence and Chinese state influence. Chinese presence refers broadly to the activities of diaspora communities, private entrepreneurs, companies, diplomatic representatives and state-linked actors. Chinese state influence refers specifically to the ability of the Chinese state and affiliated actors to shape political decision-making, governance practices or strategic economic choices within the CPKNL.
Chinese presence in the CPKNL has expanded over the past decades, primarily through migration, diaspora networks and private economic activity. Chinese-owned businesses have become more visible in the local economies, particularly in retail, supermarkets, restaurants, hospitality and small-scale commerce. More recently, Chinese companies have also participated in selected infrastructure, telecommunications and renewable energy projects.
At the same time, the report finds little evidence that Chinese state-led political influence in the CPKNL has increased substantially. Chinese state-linked investments and diplomatic activities in the CPKNL appear modest compared to other Caribbean countries. Political engagement by local Chinese communities also appears limited, while the islands themselves possess relatively limited strategic value for China in formal diplomatic terms.
Rather than approaching the region primarily through the lens of geopolitical rivalry, this report argues for a Charter-based long-term resilience-oriented approach that balances security considerations with local autonomy, economic development and regional stability. This includes improving coordination on economic security, strengthening digital and energy infrastructure, increasing institutional and financial investigative capacity, improving the exchange and analysis of information on cross-border financial flows and reducing concentrated external dependencies where feasible. Risk assessments should be conducted at country and public-entity level rather than treating the CPKNL as a single exposure category.
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