Ports of Power: Unpacking the Representations of Chinese Influence in Peru's Chancay Megaproject

This thesis examines the differing narratives surrounding Chinese investment in Peru's Chancay Port megaproject between 2019 and 2025. Through postcolonial, media-framing, and identity theories, this study uses critical discourse analysis to trace how these overlapping narratives shape public acceptance and resistance, revealing both the promise and perils of China's deepening footprint in Peru. Chinese and Peruvian governmental narratives frame the port as a "win–win" emblem of shared prosperity and modernity, while downplaying environmental and local concerns. Mainstream media in both countries reinforce this optimism, transmitting the same perspective through their publications. In contrast, alternative media showcases what both government and traditional media have not: the ecological damage and disrupted livelihoods that the megaproject has caused. U.S. analysts warn of strategic dependency and geoeconomic rivalry, whereas neighboring Latin American states react with a mix of apprehension and opportunism. This competing combination of perspectives gives nuance in shades of gray, rather than the black-and-white of a more traditional binary analysis.