The donation of
30 Chinese trucks
to Argentina caused a
quasi-diplomatic conflict
over which the Government of Javier Milei is now trying to put some cold feet.
The interdict occurred because the presidential spokesperson, Manuel Adorni, said last Friday, with irony, that the trucks that had arrived were to
fight against Covid
, when the pandemic ended on May 5, 2023.
These statements by Adorni provoked a reaction from the Chinese Embassy.
In a
series of
posts
on
network
Clarín
consulted government sources to try to understand whether the trucks
were ultimately to fight Covid or not
.
During an informal talk, a phrase emerged that somehow illustrates what happened and why Adorni's assertions left an open flank for the Chinese denial.
“It was more or less Covid
,” explained an interlocutor who followed this controversy closely.
So
the episode configured a sinuous line
that left open the possibility that the interpretations were left to the interpreter's liking.
The reality is that the signing of the protocol between Argentina and China for the shipment of the
30 trucks
in question was signed, according to sources from the same Government, on
September 26, 2022
.
That is, when the pandemic was still a public health problem.
What happened next was a classic bureaucratic delay, which resulted in these vehicles arriving at the Port of Buenos Aires
a year and a half later
.
Were they then to fight against Covid?
If they had arrived in a timely manner, they would probably
have served
to address health issues within the framework of that emergency.
In the current context, obviously not.
Some of the trucks arriving are water purification plants.
“China got angry because
Covid was mentioned
.
They are health aid trucks,” they now said from the Government.
This Monday, Army personnel were inspecting the trucks to determine what condition they are in and refer them for use in
different parts of the country
.
Among others, Rosario and Merlo, in the province of Buenos Aires, were mentioned.
Question of times and objectives
The protocol signed in 2022 with China, for
50 million yuan
, represents the value of 6 energy generating vehicles, 6 water purifiers, 6 kitchen vehicles, 6 bathroom vehicles and 6 shower vehicles.
All this “along with spare parts for one year, consumables and special ones for 3 years,” the sources explained.
The Government's argument for directly associating this new donation with Covid was the following: "It is related to the logistics train of the mobile hospital
donated previously and presented in 2021
as part of the fight against the pandemic."
The explanation added that “donations are not provided for in Argentine legislation.
Only within the framework of certain exceptions that are humanitarian aid, emergency situations.
The hospital arrived in January 2021, when
the humanitarian situation was Covid
.
The protocols do not specify their final use; today they will be used for something else, but it is a related aid.”
According to the information provided by the Government itself, the agreement for the 30 trucks took place
eight months after
that first shipment although, as the ruling party says, still
within the framework of a health emergency
that the World Health Organization would only deactivate a year later. following.
Despite Adorni's sarcastic tone last Friday, government sources said that "China was never criticized, on the contrary, the donation was appreciated."
And they concluded that “what the spokesperson said is correct.”
P.S.