WILLEMSTAD – China's Consulate General in Curaçao was established partly because Beijing saw potential for the island to develop as a regional energy and logistics hub, but China's current consul general reportedly expressed disappointment that Curaçao subsequently concentrated more heavily on tourism.
That is one of the findings contained in a new report examining Chinese presence and geopolitical resilience in the Caribbean parts of the Kingdom.
The Chinese Consulate officially opened in Curaçao in 2016.
According to Chinese interlocutors interviewed by the researchers, China saw opportunities because of Curaçao's location near Venezuela and the deepwater harbor at Bullenbaai.
The timing coincided with Curaçao's attempt to secure a Chinese partner for the refinery.
In September 2016, Curaçao signed a memorandum of understanding with Guangdong Zhenrong Energy, which proposed investing approximately US$10 billion in modernization of the refinery then operated by Venezuela's PDVSA.
The agreement was eventually cancelled in 2017 amid questions about the Chinese company's credibility.
According to the report, China's consulate now consists of approximately six staff members.
Its principal functions include maintaining relations with Chinese communities across the Dutch Caribbean and promoting economic ties. Formal political relations remain primarily the responsibility of the Chinese Embassy in The Hague.
Consul General Zhang Kaibin, who took office in July 2025, has taken a more visible public role, including publishing opinion articles explaining Chinese positions and participating in public events.
The consulate has also cooperated with the Dutch Caribbean Securities Exchange to encourage Chinese investment.
However, researchers found that many members of Curaçao's established Chinese community maintain limited engagement with the consulate, except for practical services such as passports and visas.
The report concludes that China's formal diplomatic presence on Curaçao remains relatively small and has so far produced limited political influence.