This is John Batchelor, conversation with Evan Ellis, my colleague at the U.S. Army War College, about Ecuador.

There's an election imminent matching the same candidates from last year, won by Mr. Naboa, a young man.

He's being challenged by a representative from the Korea Party.

Korea was a former president of Ecuador who fled from corruption charges, but is very much

present in financing the challenge to Mr. Neboa.

Why this is critical is that Korea is closely linked with Chinese money.

And Evan tells us the eventuality of China entering again into gripping Ecuador tight

in the event that Mr. Correa's candidate, Ms. Gonzalez, is successful.

Here's Aminellas to describe the stakes in Ecuador, the small Latin American country ripped by violence and drug lords.

More of this tonight.

There's a very likely risk that that would absolutely occur.

Some of the major infrastructure projects in terms of hydroelectric facilities and road infrastructure,

the presence in the oil sector, that was all brought in by Correa during his administration, the financing deals.

And indeed, some of the biggest parts of biggest corrupt deals involving people like Jorge Glass involved Korea's cronies.

And so it's every bit likely that if Korea comes back in, you will see Chinese engagement coming back in as an alternative to working with the United States.