China Accuses US of Interference in Chile Observatory Project

China has forcefully rejected U.S. concerns over its expanding influence in Chile, particularly regarding a planned Chinese astronomical observatory in the Atacama Desert. At a press conference in Santiago, China's ambassador accused the U.S. of interfering with Chile's sovereign right to choose its partners and spreading misinformation about the telescope project, which aims to observe near-Earth objects. The initiative, a collaboration between China's National Astronomical Observatory and a Chilean university, has become a focal point in the broader U.S.-China rivalry, as Washington worries about Beijing's growing investments and trade dominance in Latin America. In response to U.S. pressure, Chile has suspended the project for review, with ongoing discussions between Chilean and Chinese officials. U.S. officials, including the Trump administration's nominee for ambassador to Chile, have pledged to demonstrate America's value as a trade partner and limit China's access to Chilean resources. Chinese representatives maintain that the observatory is purely scientific and comparable to other international telescopes in the region.