The Caribbean's Golden Passport: Chinese Investors' Exodus

In this special episode our host, Leland Lazarus, takes the seat as our guest as fellow Jack D. Gordon Program Director, Mike Asencio, speaks with him as on why more wealthy Chinese individuals are becoming Caribbean citizens. Five Caribbean countries have benefited immensely from CBI (Citizenship by Investment), a program that contributes as much as a third of some countries’ gross domestic product (GDP). Throughout recent years, a growing number of wealthy individuals from China have been applying for CBI in the Caribbean. This raises the question of how affluent Chinese people might use their political influence in the future as they continue to relocate their assets and citizenship to the Caribbean, and what it means going forward. Leland Lazarus, Associate Director of Research at Florida International University's Jack D. Gordon Institute of Public Policy, is a prominent expert in China-Latin America relations. Leading a team analyzing U.S. security and governance in Latin America, he previously advised the U.S. Southern Command on China's role in the region. With an extensive career including State Department service and roles such as Fulbright scholar and China Central Television Associate Producer, Leland's insights have been featured in major publications. Recognized for his contributions, he holds awards like the Joint Civilian Service Commendation Award and the Distinguished Honor Award. Fluent in Mandarin and Spanish, Leland holds an M.A. in U.S.-China Foreign Policy and a B.A. in International Relations.