Latest news with #NiuQingbao
&w=3840&q=100)
First Post
30-04-2025
- Business
- First Post
It's China vs US again, this time in Chile over a space project
China is building a new observatory in Chile's Atacama Desert to track objects in Earth's orbit and look for new stars. The project, however, has made Washington anxious as it flags growing Chinese presence in Latin America read more China and the US cannot seem to catch a break from all the disputes they have been engaging in for the past couple of months. As the two countries have barely settled a trade dispute triggered by tariffs, Beijing has now slammed Washington over its concerns about an increased Chinese presence in Chile. During a press conference in Santiago, the Chinese Ambassador to Chile, Niu Qingbao, defended the country's space project in the South American nation. He accused the US of meddling in Chile's autonomy and spreading false information about the project. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD What is the space project? In December 2024, Newsweek reported that a new observatory is being built at Cerro Ventarrones in Chile's Atacama Desert. It's a joint project between Chile's Universidad Católica del Norte and China's National Astronomical Observatories. The observatory will track objects in Earth's orbit and look for new stars. However, it may also support China's military space program—something Chilean partners reportedly knew little about. Construction has started on the 10-square-mile Ventarrones Astronomical Park, located below an 8,600-foot peak in the Andes. Why is the US concerned? China's presence in Chile has made Washington anxious about its intentions and growing presence in Latin America. During his Senate confirmation, US President Donald Trump's Chilean Ambassador nominee Brandon Judd flagged Beijing's project in the country. He said, '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. We will continue to strengthen our ties to Chile and limit China's access to all of the resources that Chile might have available.' What has China said? Meanwhile, China has dismissed America's concerns with Niu stating that Beijing has no geopolitical interests in the region. '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. On the other hand, Chile, in March, halted the Chinese project to put it under review. 'We are aware of it, so we are revising and analysing it,' a spokesperson for Chile's Ministry of Foreign Affairs told Newsweek.
RTHK
30-04-2025
- Politics
- RTHK
China slams US defamation of Chile space observatory
China slams US defamation of Chile space observatory Chile's Atacama Desert produces exceptionally clear conditions that have made it a major hub for global astronomy. File photo: AFP China struck a defiant stance in response to American concerns about Beijing's efforts to expand its influence in the South American nation of Chile, escalating tensions over a Chinese astronomical venture in Chile's arid north. At a press conference on Tuesday in Chile's capital of Santiago, China's ambassador Niu Qingbao lambasted the United States for 'interfering in Chile's sovereign right to independently choose its partners' and spreading "disinformation about the project'. The astronomy project stems from a 2023 agreement between China's National Astronomical Observatory and Chile's Catholic University of the North to work on a powerful space observatory in the country's vast northern Atacama Desert. The proposed high-resolution telescope would be able to observe near-Earth objects, which are classified as asteroids or comets. But Washington has expressed concern over China's clout on its doorstep, as Beijing builds infrastructure, boosts investment in agriculture, energy, mining and other sectors across Latin America and displaces the United States as the region's biggest trading partner. During his Senate confirmation hearing this month, Brandon Judd, Trump's nominee for US ambassador to Chile, said he would seek to persuade Chile that 'we are the better trade partner.' He added: "We will continue to strengthen our ties to Chile and limit China's access to all of the resources that Chile might have available.' As US concern grew, the Chilean government announced it was suspending the project for review. Niu dismissed fears on Tuesday, saying, 'China has no interest in geopolitics." He accused the United States of provoking tensions by 'defaming Chinese projects by invoking geopolitical arguments.' He claimed the proposed observatory was 'of the same nature' as the many other telescopes in northern Chile, including an American-funded telescope known as the Rubin Observatory coming into operation 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 United States, the European Union, Australia and a range of other countries operate observatories in Chile's Atacama Desert. The region's geography – bone-dry and high-altitude, with steady air and the cloud-blocking Andes Mountains to the east – produces exceptionally clear conditions that have made it a major hub for global astronomy. (AP)
Washington Post
30-04-2025
- Politics
- Washington Post
China lashes out at US as tensions escalate over a space observatory in Chile
SANTIAGO, Chile — China struck a defiant stance on Tuesday in response to American concerns about Beijing's efforts to expand its influence in the resource-rich South American nation of Chile, escalating tensions over a Chinese astronomical venture in Chile's arid north. At a press conference Tuesday in Chile's capital of Santiago, China's ambassador to Chile, Niu Qingbao, lambasted the United States for 'interfering in Chile's sovereign right to independently choose its partners' and spreading 'disinformation about the project.'
Bloomberg
29-04-2025
- Politics
- Bloomberg
Chinese Telescope Opposed by US Puts Chile in Geopolitical Bind
China called on Chile to approve the construction of a Chinese observatory in the country's north and overcome US 'interference' to block the project. China's ambassador to the South American nation, Niu Qingbao, said he is in talks with Chile's Foreign Ministry to resume construction at the site, that was halted earlier this year due to what he suspected were US objections.
