Latest news with #Sino-LatinAmerican

South China Morning Post

Is China's space collaboration with Latin America under threat as the US asserts power?

Advertisement Analysts expect the trend to continue, but it is unlikely that Latin-American countries will abandon the China partnership if the US cannot provide competing alternatives. The latest controversy involves the potential cancellation of an US$80 million astronomical observatory project between China's National Astronomical Observatory and a Chilean university. It was reported last month that Chilean President Gabriel Boric had decided to cancel the project following concerns conveyed to Santiago by the Biden administration. The Chilean foreign ministry was reviewing the matter, the reports said. Observers warn that the Trump White House is likely to intensify scrutiny of Sino-Latin American space cooperation and adopt a more assertive approach. Advertisement They expect the United States to continue seeking to block such cooperation, forcing Latin American governments into an increasingly difficult balancing act between the two superpowers Francisco Urdinez, associate professor at the Pontifical Catholic University of Chile's Political Science Institute, said that Latin American countries were increasingly facing US pressure over scientific partnerships with China amid the intensifying big power rivalry.