The Chinese Embassy defended the use of the Neuquén space station: “It is civil and transparent”

Faced with the repercussions of the meeting between Javier Milei and U.S. General Laura Richardson, from which the possibility of carrying out a technical inspection at the Chinese space base in Neuquén was raised, the Chinese Embassy defended the use of the station and assured that it is “civilian and transparent.” During the last week, amid theories and accusations, Milei’s government analyzed the possibility of carrying out an inspection at the Chinese space base located in Bajada del Agrio, built between 2014 and 2017, with the aim of checking if the station complies with the agreement with the government that dictates that 10% of the resources must be used by Argentina. The Chinese Embassy strongly defended the use of the base. “The Deep Space Station in Neuquén is a space technology cooperation facility between China and Argentina. Scientists from both Argentina and China have access to the use of this station for scientific research,” he said. Along these lines, he added: “In addition to offering measurement and control services for China’s aerospace project, thanks to the coordination of CONAE, this station also works together with the organizations and companies of several countries in space exploration.” On the other hand, continuing with its defense, the Embassy referred to the multiple local benefits that the station brings and recalled that there has already been a visit to the place. “The local government and schools in Neuquén use this station to disseminate space knowledge. In 2019, the Argentine Foreign Ministry and CONAE coordinated a delegation visit of diplomatic representatives, including from the United States, to the station,” he explained, and concluded: “All this fully demonstrates the civilian character and the open and transparent operating model of the station.” With a 35-meter diameter antenna focused on the Chinese space mission, for its creation during the past decade there were agreements between China Satellite Launch and Tracking Control General (CLTC), the National Commission for Space Activities (CONAE), the province of Neuquén and the governments of Argentina and China, and since then it has been the object of suspicion for many opponents. Milei’s arrival in the government marked a drastic change in Argentina’s foreign policy, and the recent accusations come at a time when the president is seeking to further strengthen bilateral relations with U.S. authorities.

Original source in Spanish