China has its foothold in the Americas.

via Want China Times

Security forces in Venezuela are using Chinese military hardware such as the Norinco VN-4 armored vehicle and Shaanxi Y-8C transport aircraft to suppress nationwide anti-government protests, according to US analyst Richard Fisher in an article written for the London-based Jane's Defence Weekly.
A photo taken on Feb. 21 and posted on Twitter showed "what activists described as Cuban special forces disembarking from Venezuela's new Shaanxi Y-8C transport aircraft," Fisher said. He added that Venezuelan interior minister Rodriguez Torres denied the deployment of Cuban special forces on Feb. 23, but the photo showed that President Nicolas Maduro is seeking support from Cuba and China to stabilize his rule amid the current wave of violence.
Venezuela purchased eight Y-8Cs from China in 2011. The planes can transport up to 18-20 tonnes of cargo. As for the VN-4, the Venezuelan National Guard introduced 141 vehicles back in 2012. The 4x4 9-tonne armored vehicle can carry up to eight personnel and is equipped with a light machine gun, according to Fisher. He said that the Chinese-made hardware has finally gained "'combat' experience" by being deployed to put down the social unrest.
"Chinese weapons' lack of combat experience has been a long-standing impediment to Beijing's efforts to win major deals on the global arms market," Fisher wrote.
China is planning to export its FC-1/JF-17 Xiaolong/Thunder fighters to Venezuela and has discussed the co-production of this fighter with Argentina. Meanwhile, China is looking toward Venezuela and Peru to be the buyers of its more advanced J-10 fighter. Fisher added that Peru is also considered a market for China to export its BP-12A short-range ballistic missile. China has also sold border surveillance equipment to Peru and Brazil.
To keep an eye on the situation, Washington has asked Beijing to hold six "Sub Dialogues on Latin America," Fisher said, with the most recent held in Beijing in November last year.

Lets put to one side the fact that the situation in Venezuela is of far more importance to the United States than the happenings in the Ukraine.

Lets ignore for the moment that Cuban Special Forces were used to put down protests in Venezuela.

Venezuela is moving from buying Russian kit to Chinese.  What I'll find interesting is if they buy J-10's.  How would they match up against Brazilian Gripens?  Does anyone fly aircraft in the region that could over match them?

Additionally the thought that they could purchase ballistic missiles brings up all sorts of issues that aren't being considered today.

I've watched the happening in Brazil, Mexico, Chile and Peru with great interest.  Venezuela needs to be added to the list.

If you add S. America to whats going on in the Pacific and Middle East, I think we have the makings of a worldwide arms race developing.