Chinese Embassy in Argentina reaffirms the “civil character” of the base objected to by the US.

The Embassy of China in Buenos AiresArgentina reaffirmed this Sunday the “civil character” and the “transparent” operation of the space base installed in the Argentine province of Neuquén and that USA objects for alleged military objectives.

”The Deep Space Station in Neuquén is a space technological cooperation facility between China and Argentina. Scientists from both Argentina and China “They have access to the use of this station for scientific research,” stated the Chinese Embassy in a message on its profile on the social network X.

The chinese space stationwhich has operated since October 2017 under a first bilateral agreement signed in 2012, during the Peronist Administration Cristina Fernandez (2007-2015)returned to the center of the scene in recent days, within the framework of the visit to Argentina of the general of the United States Southern Command, Laura Richardson.

USA questions the activities of that base, under the possibility that they have military and not scientific objectives. Last Friday, in a press conference, the Argentine presidential spokesman, Manuel Adorni, said that the Government of Javier Milei believes that the activity at the base “It is purely scientific and research”, but that, “in any case, the technical inspections that are necessary will be carried out.”

Located in the Quintuco area (1,150 kilometers southwest of Buenos Aires) and designed to connect with space missions, the station is a project of the Chinese National Agency for Satellite Launch, Tracking and General Control (CLTC) and the National Commission for Space Activities (CONAE) of Argentina.

Based on an agreement signed in 2012 between these organizations and the province of Neuquén, in 2013 the construction of the base began, in April 2015 the antenna assembly tasks began and in 2017 it began to operate.

In its message this Sunday, the Chinese Embassy in Argentina stated that a set of facts “fully demonstrates the civil character and the open and transparent operation model of said station.”

Among other things, he indicated that, in addition to offering measurement and control services for the Chinese aerospace project, thanks to the coordination of Conaethis station also works together with organizations and companies from several countries in space exploration.

Likewise, he highlighted that the local government and schools of Neuquén use this station to disseminate spatial knowledge and recalled that in 2019 the Argentine Foreign Ministry and the Conae coordinated a visit to the base by diplomatic representatives, including those of USA.