By Gaby Chávez | 2025-06-09

SAN SALVADOR -- More than six months after its inauguration, the new pier at Puerto de La Libertad in southern El Salvador has emerged as a symbol of local development. But behind the sleek infrastructure lies a murky story of international cooperation and opaque financing, courtesy of China.

Each day, hundreds of people pass through the pier to work or buy fresh seafood at the local market. Few know the origins of the funds or the name of the construction firm behind it. Most simply refer to it as "a project by the Chinese."

The pier, opened last November 20, is one of four multimillion-dollar projects funded by China in El Salvador. Its construction has drawn scrutiny due to the record of the builder: China Harbour Engineering Company Limited (CHEC).

While the cost of the pier is estimated at about $24 million -- part of a broader aid package announced after President Nayib Bukele's 2019 visit to Beijing -- financial details have remained shrouded in secrecy. The Salvadoran government has not disclosed the terms of the funding or the specifics of the contract.

An investigation by Expediente Público in August 2023 revealed that all documents related to the project have been classified as confidential, citing national laws governing diplomatic matters. That decision has only deepened public concern over the lack of transparency.

Adding to the mystery, CHEC chose not to place signage identifying the company or its machinery at the site during construction, a rare move for a contractor of its scale. The firm also offered no public statements upon completion of the pier.

A makeover for tourists, a setback for locals

Social media posts showcase the pier as a landmark of coastal development, with polished walkways, souvenir shops and well-known restaurant chains. But many locals, particularly small-scale vendors and fishers, are feeling the costs of that transformation.

During construction, local fishers faced restrictions on access and permits. Those who sought jobs on site were largely rejected, as most of the labor force came from China. The few Salvadorans hired were not from the surrounding community.

Since the pier's completion, many long-time vendors and tour operators have been relocated to less visible areas. A walk along the beach reveals new signage banning street vendors and even local performers, pushing traditional livelihoods further to the periphery.

Civil society groups like Acción Ciudadana have raised concerns over the governance of international aid projects, pointing to a lack of accountability and inclusion. In its 2024 transparency report on public infrastructure, published in October, the organization stated that "projects funded by the People's Republic of China are marked by a complete absence of public information."

"The prevailing trend among institutions overseeing major public works is the excessive, and often unjustified, use of information classification," the report added, noting that many of these secrecy orders are extended well beyond their original timelines.

A global contractor under scrutiny

CHEC is a subsidiary of China Communications Construction Company, a state-owned giant involved in infrastructure projects across the globe,and dogged by allegations of corruption and poor performance.

Since 2009, CHEC has been blacklisted by the World Bank over fraudulent bidding practices. In Latin America, governments in Bolivia, Colombia, Costa Rica, Honduras and Jamaica have raised red flags over the company's projects, citing delays, environmental damage, substandard materials and evidence of corrupt practices.

In La Libertad, the pier may offer a sleek new façade for tourism, but for many Salvadorans, it has become a reminder that development without transparency often comes at a cost, one that local communities are forced to bear.