The issue of China‘s base in Neuquén sneaked into the general’s visit Laura Richardsonhead of the Southern Command of the United States, who on her third trip to the country, and for three days, maintained an intense agenda of meetings with national officials and the president himself, Javier Miley. The objective: strengthen “cooperation ties” in security and defense. According to her, she was able to know THE NATION from important sources in the national government, the problem surrounding the base was discussed with some of the most important cabinet officials, although not specifically with the president, who yesterday traveled to Ushuaia to receive it personally.
The situation with the base, which was built between 2013 and 2017, under the second term of Cristina Kirchner, is especially sensitive at a time when Argentina is realigning its geopolitical posture with the United States and moving away from China. However, despite the fact that this week it became known that The Government plans to inspect the base, about which there could be official news this Monday, official sources They clarified that the decision had already been made before Richardson’s arrival.
“What is going to be done is a visit, as has been reported and has been planned for a long time”a senior government source told THE NATION. It distinguished that it will, in principle, “a visit and not an inspection”, which will be in the hands of the National Space Agency in the hands of the National Commission for Space Activities (CONAE).
This Friday, the position of the Neuquén government, headed by the governor, was known. Rolando “Rolo” Figueroawhich through a statement, after the decision of the national Executive to visit the base was known, He supported that position and considered that “transparency must be ensured.”
The position on the visit refutes a version that they had earlier let out internally in the Casa Rosada, according to which “at some point the base will cease to exist” and that “it was allowed within the agreement.” However, when specific sources in the area were consulted, they maintained that “that is not under study” and that, eventually, if that decision had to be made at some point it would not be something immediate. By contract, there are five years from the date on which it is decided until the possible closure takes place and it must be an “addendum” between both countries. “It is not in the folder at all,” they clarified. And in that sense they added that “Nothing suggests that what is happening at the Chinese base is not scientific”, in reference to the versions that reported possible military or espionage activities.
The base is located on provincial route 33, in the Quintuco area, near Bajada del Agrio, on Neuquén provincial route 33, and construction began in 2014 under the second presidency of Cristina Kirchner and was completed in 2017, during the administration of Mauricio Macri. It is a property of around 200 hectares transferred by the government of Neuquén to China for a period of 50 years.
According to two important government sources agreed with this newspaper, “In principle there is no information about any military activity being carried out there”. In that sense, they added that there are members of the CONAE that carry out activities at the site, given the conditions of the contract, and for which Argentina has 10% of the use of the facilities. Confirming that exactly this band is met is part of what will be revealed in the visit that will be carried out in the near future.
According to what this newspaper reconstructed, the topic came up in the conversations with Richardson, due to the statements of the American ambassador in Argentina, Marc Stanleywho had previously maintained in an interview with THE NATION: “I am surprised that Argentina allows the Chinese Armed Forces to operate in Neuquén secretly, doing who knows what. “I understand that these are soldiers from the Chinese Army 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.”
Richardson’s agenda in Argentina included two meetings with the libertarian leader, one in Buenos Aires this Friday, at the airport, and another on Thursday night, in Ushuaia. The president traveled there in a decision made in a few minutes and after learning that the governor of Tierra del Fuego, Gustavo Melella, would not receive it personally, according to Casa Rosada sources. Today, at the airport, Richardson and Milei participated in the official transfer of the Hercules C-130H transport plane to the Argentine Air Force. Close sources stated that the aircraft is valued at approximately US$30 million, and is part of a security “assistance donation” financed by the United States.
Prior to her meeting with Milei, the general met with the chief of staff, Nicolas Posse; the defense minister, Luis Petrithat of Foreign Affairs, Diana Mondino, and Brigadier General Xavier Isaac, head of the Joint Chiefs of Staff of the Armed Forces. While both this Thursday in Ushuaia and on Friday at the airport the head of the Interior was present, Guillermo Francos.