Venezuela's Chavez arrives in China for visit

Venezuela's president Hugo Chavez arrived in China yesterday and plans to meet with Chinese president Hu Jintao. Besides seeking to improve relations with one another's respected countries, the presidents seek to sign agreements on combat aircraft. This move may bother the United States, if it views Chavez building up military and energies ties with powerful countries in an effort to annoy or provoke the West. 

Hugo Chavez views a relationship with China as being "strategic" and views emerging superpowers like China as giving other nations around the world more options, besides simply asking the United States for money or partnership. China is currently Venezuela's 6th largest trading partner. As it stands, China has made strong moves to enter the South American and African markets, hence China's influence is growing due to these new emerging alliances.