Two political-scientific delegations from the Government
began
this Thursday a visit to the space stations of the Chinese National Agency for Satellite Launch, Tracking and General Control (CLTC) in Neuquén and the European Space Agency - which includes Great Britain - in Mendoza. Thursday, April 18 and Friday, April 19.
Although the visits are to the Chinese and European Space Agency facilities, the main reason for this control
is the concern of the United States
over the possibility of espionage being carried out from the 200 hectares where it is installed in Bajada del Agrio, Neuquén. The Foreign Ministry made it simultaneous with the European one to reduce tension with the People's Republic of China.
The delegation is made up of representatives of the Secretariat of Innovation, Science and Technology, the Secretariat of National Strategy, the Foreign Ministry, as well as experts from ENACOM and CONAE. It will be chaired by Alejandro Cosentino, Secretary of Innovation, Science and Technology, and the Secretary of National Strategy, Jorge Antelo.
The purpose of this visit "is to evaluate
the operational status, security and compliance with the standards
established for these infrastructures, in addition to strengthening transparency and relations between Argentina and its European and Chinese counterparts, within the framework of the agreements of current cooperation," reported official spokespersons. It is the first official visit made by the current government.
The coordination of this visit was carried out in close collaboration with both agencies, who have shown "
an exemplary disposition
and have provided all the necessary facilities," the spokespersons stressed.
"The Argentine Government considers this visit as an opportunity to revitalize cooperation with both counterparts and initiate greater exchange and presence on the part of Argentina in the space stations," they added.
The inspection that the Government carries out of the “Chinese base” was motivated after the North American ambassador, Marc Stanley, said two weeks ago to La Nación: “with respect to the Chinese, I am surprised that Argentina allows the Chinese Armed Forces to operate in Neuquén, secretly, doing who knows what.” “I understand that
these are Chinese army soldiers
who operate this space telescope, I don't know what they do, I think the Argentines don't know either, and they should understand why the Chinese are deployed there,” added President Joe's diplomat. Biden.
Then General Laura Richardson, head of the Southern Command of the United States, insisted this week on North American concern about these Chinese facilities in the high-level talks she had with the Chief of Staff, Nicolás Posse, and the Ministers of Security, Patricia Bullrich. , and Defense, Luis Petri and other Argentine authorities.
In the past, ministers, ambassadors, scientists from the National Commission for Special Activities (CONAE) and the National Communications Agency (ENACON), have already entered the Chinese communications station in Neuquén more than 40 times and until now, "they have not found no Chinese military or activities for military purposes.” Even, “the former scientific attaché of the US embassy entered the facilities” within a delegation of diplomats who visited the place on August 26, 2019.
The Chinese station has already been visited, for example, by the former Minister of Science and Technology, Daniel Filmus, the former ambassador in Washington, Jorge Argüello, foreign diplomats and even a rector of the University of Comahue and officials of the government of Neuquén, among others, since it came into operation in 2018.
In 2014, the Chinese company committed to giving civil use to the Neuquén antenna and two years later Macri added a protocol to the agreement between Argentina and China for the same purpose.