Historian Javier Matta: Chile's century of ties to Asia

The fact that Chile has not paid sufficient attention to Pacific Rim affairs, even though it has the largest coast-to-land ration in the world, was a cliché once used by Chileans to epitomize the nation’s lack of historic and economic development over the years. In recent years, however, this situation has changed. The Asia-Pacific is receiving the prominence it deserves, though it took over 120 years to realize the significance of the vast region in Santiago.

When searching for information on the history and origins of the relations of Chile and Asia all roads seem to lead to a pioneer in the field of Asia-Chile research, Professor Javier Matta, who wrote the first thesis on the subject in 1989. He focused on China, entitling his work "Bilateral relations between Chile and China."

Matta states that he first read the limited number of books on the subject published in Chile. He then researched the Foreign Ministry and the National Institute of Statistics files on the subject. In his view, Chilean perspectives on Asia began to change in the 1970s, mainly due to commercial and strategic concerns, "to the point that, nowadays, if China is not a signatory to a given Chilean treaty, then said accord is quite inconsequential.”

Plenty of trade, but no diplomatic ties

Where does the Chile-Asia story begin? It began before Independence, in what Matta describes as "sporadic" contact with Asia. The sole purpose of these encounters was to trade and not diplomacy, a characteristic which lasted throughout nearly the entire first century of the new republic’s life.

"For example, there were contacts with a company in Calcutta during O`Higgins’ rule; specifically, between 1819 and 1820. When war broke out in India, there was a sharp increase in copper demand to the Subcontinent. Some ships sailed from Valparaiso, but when the internal strife was quelled, so ended the copper boom market. No more shipments were made." Situations such as this pervaded the first half of the 19th century.

Commercial interest in China began when the giant was forced to sign the infamous Treaty of Nanking (1842) with Great Britain after the First Opium War. European powers began to increase their colonial presence along China’s coast during this period.

In 1844, Chile, backed by Great Britain, signed a treaty with China establishing consulates in Canton (Guangzhou), Hong Kong and Manila. Ships began sailing to Asia from Valparaiso, as well as ports in the north of the nation. Copper and especially wheat was exported. Trips to Guangzhou took up to 80 days. The Chilean market began to import Chinese products such as fine silks, lacquered wood, screens, swords, medicine (a euphemism for opium), spices, rice and sugar.

In these early years, Japan was closed off to the world. But in 1853, the US forced it to open its ports.

Consolidation of diplomatic ties in the 20th century

The preliminary phase of Chile-Asia ties described above lasted until the administration of President Balmaceda. He sent a trade mission to Asia in hopes of selling sodium nitrate, a nitrogen compound used in explosives and fertilizers. Matta states it was Balmaceda who decided to send a mission to Japan and China. But the paradox is that China only received delegations from countries which had a Treaty of Peace, Amity and Trade with China. "During that time, there were no advisers. No one realized there was a problem (until they arrived). Thus, all the efforts came to nothing.”

Talks then began to establish diplomatic ties with Japan. The talks concluded in 1897 with the appointment of a consul to Yokohama, who arrived the following year.

The turn of the century saw the Empire of the Rising Sun begin to make its presence known, while China trailed behind, says Matta. "China was in collapse due to colonialism and internal strife." China only managed to establish formal diplomatic relations in 1915.

By the time of Chile’s centenary, it already had formal diplomatic relations with Japan, which were formalized in 1906. In fact Japan sent a delegation to celebrate the 1910 centennial festivities.

Unfortunately, the visit also served to highlight the lack of information available on Japanese culture in Chile. "The Chief of Protocol at the Foreign Ministry reported that when the delegation was welcomes by then President Emiliano Figueroa, the Japanese national anthem was supposed to be played. In fact, they had neither a copy of the music nor any idea of how to play it. They ended up turning to some Pianola rolls, provided a diplomat who thought one of the melodies might be the national anthem. Fortunately, only the Japanese realized what was occurring when the music began, but because they were standing at attention and so martial, no on said anything.”

The beginning of a new era in diplomatic ties

Towards the end of World War II, ties were broken off with Japan and China. This was due to the Japanese invasion of China and US pressure on Chile to declare war on Japan. The two never came into direct conflict, despite the declaration of war by Chile.

At war’s end, the situation immediately normalized with Japan. Relations were as cordial as ever. In fact, they improved, if one takes into account that Chile was the first country to sign an FTA with Japan (2007).

China experienced a more complicated situation, because the triumph of Mao led to the founding of the PRC. The losing side, the Nationalists, headed for the island of Taiwan where it formed an independent state. Chile made a decision in 1971 during the government of Salvador Allende, to honor the UN resolution, which only recognized one China. Chile established diplomatic ties to Beijing which have continued to the present day.