SANTA CRUZ, Bolivia—China’s reach within Latin America continued to expand in 2021, capping a 20 year trend of the Asian giant’s growth and influence through trade. From 2000 to 2020 trade with China sprouted from $12 billion to $315 billion. Last year bilateral exchanges grew by another 31.6 percent. By 2035 projections from China’s business relationships in the region will more than double, accounting for more than $700 billion. While the economic powerhouse’s expanding influence in Latin America isn’t new, the rate at which it is happening is raising eyebrows for some experts. The United States found itself in second place to China as the main export market for Latin America as of 2010. Much of this has been attributed to the overall lack of interest by some decision makers within the American government to developing stronger relations within the region. Republican Senator Mark Rubio said, “What the United States needs is a …