Argentina is wrestling with a military dispute over the space between the United States and China

On January 10, 2019, the Chinese military system launched for the first time a rocket of the year. In 2018, the Asian country made at least 12 similar launches with cargoes for military use. This constitutes a frantic pace, considering that only the United States and Russia realized a similar amount, but together. It happens that China has a specific plan called "Long march", through which plans to become the main power of extraterrestrial space by 2030.

To do this, you must place a series of objects of different natures in orbit. These include encrypted communications satellites for civilian and military use, surveillance and spying devices that can detect the economic and military movements of their adversaries, and what will be their most ambitious commitment: your own GPS guidance network.

Russia already has its GPS system called "Glonbad " and the European Union with its "Galilee ". China, still keen to cut off all dependencies on strategic issues, has already started its own satellite network dubbed"Beidou".

The reasons are due to a priority military premise. When we use the global positioning system – created by the US Department of Defense – every day to move or identify a specific location on the surface of the Earth, we use a network of dozens of US satellites, whose management allows: a significant military advantage.

That's because This same guidance system can be used to place a bomb on a target with millimetric precision or to guide an aircraft or missile over thousands of kilometers.s with such precision that an artifact that takes off from the Indian Ocean is able to more effectively identify an address in a suburb of a North African city than a pizza delivery.

The problem for other countries without their own GPS network is that the United States has the key to managing the accuracy with which the Global Positioning System is used and, therefore, disabling similar guidance methods in areas where they are not interested. for purposes that affect their strategic plans.

Managing the accuracy of GPS means that a bomb is launched about ten meters from your target or that a device using this guide is diverted a few hundred kilometers, or even several kilometers, depending on the case. This margin of error in a military operation can make the difference between success and disaster.

China took note of this weakness a few years ago and acted accordingly, preparing a plan to have its own network of satellite positioning and espionage. and put them into orbit in a sequence that ends in the year 2030. For this year, you can claim the title of "Space Power". Y It's here that Argentina comes in.

To agree secretly

In 2012, as nationalist banners brandished the frigate for freedom embargo in a Ghanaian port, the government of Cristina Kirchner He made Argentina a Chinese story.

At the time when an epic battle was waged against bondholders seeking to confiscate Argentine badets abroad, the latest arrangements were made for a secret deal with China. .

It is not less than that of the installation of the first foreign base for war purposes which operates fully on the Argentine territory since the country exists as such.

Not even when the country was Britain's cabinet at the beginning of the twentieth century, not even in time of world wars, when the Allied pressure reached the point of the threat of invasion, l 'armoire,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,. Argentina allowed other countries to set up bases for military purposes. .

Even in the middle of the cold war, when benefits were offered and threats were distributed to those who do not join one of the parties, Argentina has competently maneuvered to remain impartial and sell its products in exchange for this neutrality.

But everything changed in January 2011, during the installation of a Chinese base in the province of Neuquén, in a place until this call then unknown and distant Bajada del Agrio.

The first approaches had begun the previous year, when the Chinese government had made it known through discrete ways that it was interested in installing a base of satellite tracking and tracking in Argentina or Chile, to support his idea of ​​standing on the moon and moving on the ground. Mars in a future still undefined.

The Chinese office in charge of the project was the General launch and follow up of China, a distribution that operates in the Chinese space program and which in turn depends on the defense system of this country.

Confidential documents indicate that one of the first meetings was held on April 29, 2010 between the Chinese delegation, the National Commission for Space Activities (CONAE) and the engineer. Juan Masciotra, of the National Communications Commission.

The CNC carried out the first study at the request of the Chinese authorities to badyze the radio spectrum of five sites selected by Beijing and identify with it the one that was not jammed. This meeting was revealed in an internal CONAE document dated April 29, 2010.

On January 31, 2012, the CNC issued a notice clbadified "note CNCGI 04/2012" in which, according to the interference detected on each site badyzed, recommended the installation of the base in an area between the coordinates. 38 ° 05 "00" to 38 ° 13 "00" south (S) and 70 ° 05 "00" to 70 ° 20 "00" west (W) ".

Some time earlier, a Chinese delegation had begun to travel across the country to find the most favorable location for the construction of its base. After a few months, they focused on the provinces of Río Negro and NeuquénWhat? They offered a climate, a geological environment and isolation ideal for the task.

At that time, none of the local officials involved in these visits had escaped that foreign scientists were under the control of an entity headed by the Chinese Ministry of Defense, even though it was stressed that a site was searched for a communication facility without a wartime aspiration.

At the time, a site near the city of Zapala, but as revealed by the note n ° 29/11 of May 16, 2011, they had to face "a strong reaction from the settlers who are close to it, belonging to the community of the Gramajo indigenous peoples". In the note signed by the engineer Adolfo Luis Italiano, Director of Planning and Information Technology Development of the Province of Neuquén, the author writes to a Chinese official called "Mr. Ma Zhiqiang" explaining that, even though the site was suitable for the installation of the antenna, it should be discarded by "the obvious opposition of neighboring settlers, expressed in a series of meetings held with them, forced the suspension of site badessments and the termination of relevant studies in advance. "

In Opinion 11 – 2013 of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Argentina, signed by the official Susana Ruiz Cerruti, head of the Department of Legal Advice of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (DICOL) – the installation of a Chinese base is already being badyzed in "the land fraction of lot E1, on a site of the site of Quintuco Pilmathue, nomenclature cadastral 05-RR-011-5424-0000, of the department of Loncupué ". For the Chinese counterpart, this land was known as "site 16", and this was part of a research work all over the territory in which 20 possible sites were badyzed set up a scientific facility.

The first agreement between CONAE and the CLTC is dated July 28, 2012. It lays the groundwork for bilateral cooperation for the construction of the base.

The curious thing about this stage of the negotiation is that the province of Neuquén, the true owner of the site, he had been left out and had only recently been involved in the agreement while the governments of Argentina and China had already made progress in the transfer of the territory. 200 hectares chosen to build Chinese satellite facilities.

This stems at least from the CONAE documents, which verify that, until December 2011, the governor of Neuquén had not been informed. Jorge Sapag the progress of the negotiations and that from that date, it was decided that it was appropriate to integrate it.

At that time, the base was already established for the land to be ceded by Neuquén to the National Commission for Space Activities and CONAE to forward it to the CLTC for a period of 50 years.

C & # 39; is to say, Beijing has always negotiated with the national government and left out the province of Neuquén. At the time, it was sufficient that a negotiation of oil royalties owed by Buenos Aires to this province would allow the governor to surrender the lands claimed by the Chinese. All this is done with astonishing discretion, although doubts remain as to the legitimacy of the procedure. followed the executive of Neuquén to alienate these lands.

On June 28, 2012, the Minister of Territorial Development of Neuquén, Elso Leandro Bedoya, signed resolution 391/2012 on file No. 4340-001302 / 12, allocated to the "National Commission for Space Activities (CONAE), and for a period of 50 years, a fraction of lot E1, from an estimated area of ​​200 hectares, nomenclature cadastral 05-RR-011-5424, map Mensura E2756-3907 / 00, of the site of Quintuco Pilmathue, department of Loncupué, province of Neuquén, for the installation of a command and data acquisition center including a satellite station of the Moon and Mars exploration program, conducted by the China Space Administration (CNSA) of the People's Republic of China ".

With oriental efficiency, the July 20, 2012, the executive director of CONAE, Conrado Varotto, signed the final agreement with the CTCI entitled "Cooperation Agreement in the framework of the Chinese Moon Exploration Program" between the launch of the Chinese satellite and the General Control of Prosecution (CLTC) and the National Commission for Space Activities (CONAE) of the Argentine Republic establish ground monitoring, command and data acquisition facilities, including a deep space research station, in the province of Neuquén, Argentina ".

On April 28, 2014, once the arrangements were concluded, the governments of China and Argentina formalized an agreement legalizing everything that had been negotiated in the April agreement of the previous and giving effect previous protocols referring to the installation and construction of the base. In March, the four central buildings began to be built, as well as the parabolic dish 35 meters in diameter which gives the entity its satellite activity.

The approval of the agreement by the Congress, condition sine qua non to be valid, this was done in February 2015, when the station was already built, operational and sealed. Everything was ready for China to continue with the story that brought the Argentines to watch the Moon and Mars, while calibrating their equipment to track their brand new fleet of military satellites..

Six years ago, the author of this note was published in a survey alongside José Stella the most scandalous details of these agreements that rediscover today the major local newspapers. More than five years ago, He anticipated the scoop today indicating that the Chinese base would benefit from immunity similar to that of a foreign diplomatic headquarters.. But also It was going to receive infrastructure benefits without any compensation other than the Chinese presence in Patagonia.

The recent statement by the leader of the US Southern Command, Craig FallerWith regard to the military use of this base, he revived the problem and recalled the purpose of this facility and the convenience for Argentina to host a site likely to place it in the center of A conflict between two superpowers.

It is then necessary to review the series of favors received by the Chinese authorities in Neuquén from Neuquén by the national and provincial governments, in order to understand the scenario before their presence and the possibilities to change the status quo. current.

Such was the interest of the Argentine Government to see the Chinese base installed, which in the documents of the Chancery read the recommendation of the official. Alberto Dojas so that the land is lent for 50 years and that "access and / or availability of roads, water, electricity and lines of communication" is guaranteed. It should be noted that, Until then, the place had no accessible routes nor high-voltage lines, that the Ministry of Planning, in charge of Julio de Vido and under the sphere of which CONAE operated, he made sure that roads and power lines were built in record time while the base facilities were still under construction.

All these forecasts are envisaged in the Opinion 11/2013, n ° 1507/12, signed on January 11, 2013 by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, contained in file 0066504/2011.

This preference was part of a series of benefits and unexplainable priorities, given that Argentina did not receive any direct favors in foreign currency, nor an allowance for the use of the place. On the contrary, it destined a considerable amount of resources without return and destined them again with an inexplicable priority.

It was the same for the province of Neuquén, which signed on 28 December 2012 a new tripartite agreement with CONAE and the CLTC, obliging it to carry out the necessary works so that the base receives 1,500 kW of permanent energy. , as well as the installation of an optical fiber line at 40 Mbps. In the same article, is required to maintain in good condition the Provincial Road No. 31 through which access to the base. This work is supported by agreements between the province and the central government to fund its implementation.

The 2011 notice provided that "CLTC employees will benefit from a judicial exemption for written and oral expressions in their work for the remote station", which In Creole, this means that nothing they produced was to be realized by local legislation.

In addition, it was to ensure that the immigration authorities do not interfere with the personnel movements of the Chinese facilities and that the tax offices exempt them from any tax burden, generally strong with other inhabitants of the Argentine territory. The tax administration was informed of these privileges through a confidential memorandum sent in May 2013.

Under these exemptions, an extraordinary authorization to import items for the construction of the base is granted, as well as an additional authorization to include any type of input necessary for the operation of the base, whether or not. scientific instruments, food or clothing for those who work there. In clause 4 of the Agreement, it is established that "Argentina will allow the tax-free import for subsistence items of CLTC employees in Argentine territory in accordance with Argentine law. "

At the time, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs noted that "CONAE has noted that the scale of the project and the degree of collaboration required to ensure the successful installation and operation of this latest-generation equipment is a unique opportunity for Argentina to demonstrate its relevance. " capacity in the field of advanced technologies. "However, no document establishes the contribution of Argentine technology or the transfer of Chinese scientific advances to their local counterparts. Everything is done for free and for issues related to strengthening bilateral relations.

For this reason, and in order to preserve the forms, the agreement provided that CONAE scientists could use the facilities for 10% of the running time. However, to this end, they should apply for a permit from the base authorities, their approval depending on the fact that their use does not hinder that of the base. In addition, it will be the Chinese scientists who will determine if this happens.

Article 4 of the document where this cooperation is approved reads as follows: "CONAE's actual use of the use of 10% of the space antenna's time per year, without being accumulated over the years . To this end, CONAE will be able to install, maintain and operate data processing equipment at its expense, without interference in the support activities of the CLTC's missions. She will coordinate this activity with the CLTC by written request, at least three months in advance. "

Beyond nationalist sensitivities, these facilities imply, in fact, that Argentina gives up any tool of control and pressure in case the Chinese base deviates from what had been agreed, such as There was strong evidence that it would be used for war purposes.

This becomes all the more obvious as there is no unilateral verification mechanism on the part of the local authorities, who depend at all times on the goodwill of those who are in the area of ​​the local government. Inside the base to be asked to enter, badyze and verify the activities that are performed there. d & # 39; it.

Neither can monitor their activities nor allow third parties to do so, since a representative of one of the annexes urges Argentina to protect the business. radio space over a hundred kilometers around the bands between 10 and 50 GHz, in addition to pledging to provide guarantees against remote intrusion.

That is, if Chinese scientists under the command of the Peking Army are already carrying out activities related to their military system, there is no way to prove it or instruments to put pressure on them for that it stops.

Agreements that have allowed the installation of the base and guarantee its operation are protected by the retroactive approval of Parliament and the secrecy of the reserved protocols that accompany it. But even what has been legalized does not save Argentina from the consequences of this presence at a time when the United States and China are tightening their dispute over the title of the country's leading economic and military power.

The statement of Admiral Craig Faller was neither innocent nor hasty. In August 2018, US Secretary of Defense James Mattis visited President Mauricio Macri in Buenos Aires and, according to reliable sources, presented the question of the Chinese base in Argentine Patagonia. The central question is that, in addition to the stated objectives, he said the station would be used as part of the space network that Beijing was to monitor on US targets around the world. The Southern Command's statement that, historically and unilaterally, defended the interests of that country south of its borders sounded both a reminder and a warning.

This is the concern of President Donald Trump not to lose the race for space that, last August, created the "space force", the military chapter that will bring together the warrior capabilities of this country beyond the # 39; s atmosphere. In line with this concern, Secretary of Defense Mattis proposed to President Macri to make Argentina a military ally, an offer inseparable from the Chinese presence in the south of the country.

In any case, if the United States decided to neutralize this base on its southern flank, Argentina could face complex scenarios. This could put pressure on Buenos Aires to put an end to the agreements allowing for the presence of this base, but this would force it to give up the main trading partner and main buyer of soybeans, the large influx of dollars on which the weakness of the base depends. local economy. And even under pressure, Argentina has no way of transferring this pressure to the people of the base because of the way in which the agreements were made.

Another type of option that involves encroaching on Argentine sovereignty to get the base seems to be a fantasy reserved for open fights that, for the moment, are not even a probability.

The only clause that could save the situation is the one that states that Argentina can terminate the agreement by giving five years' notice, justifying its motivation on reasonable grounds and expressing clear legal reservations in the case of a complaint based on: reasons not accepted by the counterparty. However, Clause 3 of the Framework Agreement provides that in the event of a dispute by Argentina, an arbitration will be called with a third party chosen by mutual agreement and that the procedure will be continued to … Beijing.

All indications are that if Argentina is forced to withdraw the base, it has only to wait for the time, while negotiating so that the tensions do not leave it trapped by the legal and political confusion on which the base was built. Chinese in Patagonia.

Even if the Argentine government decided to go back with the agreement, it would suffer from the limitations of Article 5, paragraph 3, which states that "without the approval of China, entities and institutions or the individuals of Argentina can not expropriate or seize any circumstance or the equipment and facilities nor the goods and documentation of the remote space station The equipment, facilities, property and documentation of the remote space station shall not be subject to any administrative or judicial restriction. "

He could not do anything else because he had no military instrument or geopolitical weight to do anything other than an outburst of diplomatic anger.

Neither China nor the United States are very interested if the agreement for the installation of the base was signed by a former president who must parade in the courts accused of corruption or if Mauricio Macri has the ## 147 ## The intention to control inflation. In the major strategic leagues, it is considered that the agreement was signed by a state other than the occasional tenant occupying the Casa Rosada. And not respecting the covenants – or respecting them, from the perspective – has concrete consequences.

China is progressing in the militarization of space and is willing to become the opponent of the United States in all scenarios. The base he has installed in Argentine Patagonia is an essential part of his monitoring and data collection system, which is without a doubt a war chapter, given the dual nature of the technology deployed by Beijing at each launch. that she performs towards the cosmos.

Argentina then has on its Patagonian back a protuberance that makes noise in the west and serves the east to confront it. Trapped in the decisions of an electorate that at the time did not understand the consequences of the anti-American speech, another actor of the great game imposed itself on the territory and implicated Argentina in a conflict overflowing with force policy. .

For years, Argentina's foreign policy has fluctuated between conflicting parties within the World Board of Directors. And this lack of precise direction of a GPS, which for now does not know whether it will work under the US or China technology. No matter where you arrive, the coordinates indicate that you are heading straight for a conflict.