China on Tuesday pushed back against the United States concerns over its growing presence in Chile, defending a Chinese astronomical project in the country’s north as tensions rise over Beijing’s influence in South America.
During a press conference in Santiago, Chinese Ambassador to Chile, Niu Qingbao, criticised US for meddling in Chile’s autonomous decisions and disseminating false information about the project.
The astronomical initiative originated from a 2023 collaboration between China’s National Astronomical Observatory and Chile’s Catholic University of the North, planning a space observatory in the Atacama Desert.
The proposed telescope would focus on observing near-Earth asteroids and comets. The initiative became caught in the ongoing US-China competition during the Trump administration.
Washington’s concerns increased regarding China’s presence in the Americas, as Beijing increased its investments in Latin American infrastructure, agriculture, energy, and mining sectors, surpassing the US as the region’s primary trading partner.
At his Senate confirmation hearing in early month, Trump’s Chile ambassador nominee Brandon Judd expressed concerns about China’s presence in this stable South American nation. He pledged to demonstrate American superiority as a trading partner.
“We are the better partner in everything, whether it’s Antarctica, fisheries, marine conservation – in all of the areas that are very important to Chile,” Judd told the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, the Associated Press reported.
“We will continue to strengthen our ties to Chile and limit China’s access to all of the resources that Chile might have available,” Judd added.
Democratic Senator Jeanne Shaheen viewed China’s planned Chilean telescope and its Argentine space station as indicators of Beijing’s global aspirations.
“China is increasing its influence throughout Latin America, throughout Africa, throughout the world, at a time when the United States is pulling back,” Shaheen said.
“That is not in our security interest,” Shaheen added.
The Chilean government subsequently suspended the project for review, with the Foreign Ministry stating its scope needed clarification.
Despite China’s denials of military purposes, US officials expressed concerns about these space facilities potentially enhancing China’s intelligence capabilities.
Ambassador Niu rejected these concerns on Tuesday, stating China had no geopolitical interests. He accused the US of creating tensions by mischaracterising Chinese projects.
He compared the proposed observatory to existing telescopes in northern Chile, including the American-funded Rubin Observatory launching later this year.
“We are closely monitoring the developments of the incident and hope that the Chilean side can eliminate US interference and approve the implementation of the project as soon as possible,” Niu said.
The US State Department offered no immediate response to the ambassador’s statements.
Chilean government spokesperson Aisen Etcheverry confirmed discussions with both the northern Catholic university and Chinese National Astronomical Observatory regarding the project’s alignment with Chilean regulations.
Various nations including the US, European Union, and Australia operate observatories in Chile’s Atacama Desert. The region’s unique characteristics – high altitude, dry climate, stable air, and the Andes Mountains’ protection – create ideal conditions for astronomical observation.
