Summary
China’s President Xi Jinping inaugurated the $1.3 billion Chancay megaport in Peru, a key hub for South America-Asia trade, promising “tangible results” like jobs and revenue.
However, locals in the impoverished fishing town say the project has destroyed fish breeding grounds, reduced catches, and brought no economic benefits.
Residents fear further pollution, citing past oil spills.
While officials promote the port’s potential for regional growth, locals criticize the lack of infrastructure investment in their community, calling the port a “monster” that worsens inequality.
That is just learned helplessness. No matter what development pathway you want to aim for, good ports are almost always one of the most important pieces of infrastructure a country can possess. And South America’s weak international and intra-regional connectivity is one of its biggest things holding it back, and has been for decades.