Since the formal establishment of diplomatic relations on August 21, 2018, El Salvador and China have embarked on a journey of deepening ties and mutual cooperation, marked by significant milestones that underscore the strategic importance of this relationship for both nations.
This transformative partnership, rooted in El Salvador’s recognition of the “One China” policy, has evolved into a comprehensive alliance fostering economic, infrastructural, and even military collaboration.
A cornerstone in this burgeoning relationship was President Nayib Bukele’s historic state visit to China in December 2019. During this visit, President Bukele engaged in dialogues with China’s President Xi Jinping, solidifying El Salvador’s commitment to China’s territorial integrity regarding Taiwan.
This diplomatic alignment unlocked a wave of Chinese investment and support, which has played a pivotal role in El Salvador’s national development.
One of the most tangible outcomes of this cooperation is the substantial non-reimbursable financial aid from China, which has facilitated numerous infrastructure projects across El Salvador. A flagship project is the construction of the new National Library, a symbol of cultural and educational advancement located in San Salvador’s historic center.
Beyond cultural investments, China has also been instrumental in supporting projects with far-reaching impacts on everyday life in El Salvador. The development of a new water treatment plant stands out as a significant social investment, poised to improve the lives of over 100,000 Salvadorans by providing clean and safe water—a critical resource for sustainable development.
Furthermore, the planned construction of CIFCO, the premier convention and fair center, aims to position El Salvador as a regional hub for economic and trade events, enhancing its attractiveness for international business.
The relationship has also expanded into the defense realm, with the unprecedented move of El Salvador approving a Chinese military attaché. This presence not only reflects a new level of diplomatic interaction but also signals a strategic partnership in communication and security collaboration.
For China, El Salvador represents an important strategic partner in Latin America, facilitating deeper geopolitical ties and influence in the region.
This partnership exemplifies how strategic alliances can yield significant benefits, fostering mutual prosperity and understanding in an increasingly interconnected world.
The Biden administration’s hostility toward El Salvador allowed China to take the opportunity to strengthen its ties with the country.
Another thing worth highlighting is that during the Biden administration, the United States took a more hostile stance towards El Salvador, particularly as the Salvadoran government intensified its efforts to combat gang violence and restore order within its borders.
Moreover, the Biden administration, through USAID, froze funds that had already been planned for donation to El Salvador—funds that the Salvadoran government intended to use to strengthen the police. The U.S. government, through USAID, not only froze these funds but also financed, through USAID, journalists (paid propagandists), NGOs, and organizations that were hostile to the Salvadoran government in its fight against gangs.
Not only did these groups oppose the government’s actions, but they also defended the gangs.
As a curious fact: USAID funded aid programs, but within the content of those programs, they subtly or blatantly introduced international agendas. They could also donate something significant to the country and appear in photos for the news, but behind the scenes, they were financing paid propagandist journalists, pro-crime NGOs, pro-neo-socialist agendas, and other groups that opposed El Salvador’s traditional way of life.
While the U.S., under the Biden administration, was doing all that, China gave gifts (with non-repayable funds, meaning they were outright gifts) to El Salvador to further strengthen their friendship.
Besides China, El Salvador also maintains strong ties with other Asian nations like Japan and South Korea, underscoring its strategic approach to fostering diverse international alliances.
Some external links that enrich this post:
What was explained earlier is a mix of real-time information from what was experienced and witnessed at the time. However, some external sources can also be provided—not to validate what is stated here, as the truth is the truth, but rather to show some specific cases related to USAID.
The NGO Cristosal received $2 million in cooperation from USAID in 2024 (Source: https://diarioelsalvador.com/la-ong-cristosal-recibio-2-millones-de-cooperacion-de-usaid-en-2024/632599/).
Note: This NGO was one of the main defenders of gang members and one of the harshest critics of Bukele’s government while it was dismantling the gangs. In 2024 alone, it received $2 million from USAID—a concrete example of how the U.S. was funding the enemies of the Salvadoran people.
U.S.A.I.D. Official Orders Employees to Shred or Burn Classified and Personnel Records (Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/03/11/us/politics/usaid-shred-burn-documents.html)
USAid employees told to destroy classified documents, email shows (Source: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/mar/11/usaid-staff-documents)
After being exposed by the Trump administration, USAID burned documents to erase evidence of how, on a global scale, it was funding the woke agenda, the feminist agenda, the gender agenda, and everything harmful to local populations.
Extra fact: In El Salvador, USAID received over $100 million, most of which was used to fund “independent journalists,” NGOs, “civil” groups, etc.—all to oppose Bukele’s actions in El Salvador and to promote harmful agendas for the Salvadoran people.
