China’s interest in extreme sectors such as space is expanding. In January 2025, Beijing announced plans to build a one-kilometer-wide solar power station in geostationary orbit above Earth, to produce so-called space-based solar power, using solar satellites.
In this respect, Latin America is increasingly strategic for President Xi Jinping’s space ambitions.
“Due to its geography and the growing presence of Chinese space infrastructure, the region offers ideal locations for satellite tracking and deep space observation, complementing China’s global network of ground stations,” Matthew P. Funaiole, senior fellow on China’s power project for the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), told Diálogo.
The Cerro Ventarrones observatory
In the Chilean Atacama Desert, construction has begun on the Ventarrones Astronomical Park, in the Antofagasta region. The project is being managed by Chile’s North Catholic University together with China’s National Astronomical Observatory (NAOC) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS). Beijing’s initial investment of $81 million includes the construction of hundreds of telescopes.
“Given the importance of the region for global satellite tracking and intelligence gathering, any large-scale scientific facility run by a foreign power, especially one like China that is actively seeking to merge its economic, military, and scientific development, naturally puts everyone on alert,” says Funaiole.
The Atacama Desert is one of the best places in the world for astronomical observation, thanks to the low light pollution and the low water vapor in the air. Cerro Ventarrones therefore represents a privileged observatory for Beijing.
“Advanced observatories collect huge amounts of information about orbiting objects, including satellites. The facility could be used to track satellites for non-scientific purposes,” says Funaiole.
The new Cerro Ventarrones Observatory is strategically located. It is only 60 kilometers from Cerro Armazones, where the Extremely Large Telescope (ELT) is currently being built and expected to be completed in 2028. It will be the largest telescope in the world. Behind this project is the European Southern Observatory (ESO), an intergovernmental science and technology organization made up of 16 member states.
The city of Antofagasta, where the new astronomical center is being built, is strategic for cobalt, lithium, and iron mining, in which China already has a presence. Chinese company Tsingshan Holding Group plans to inaugurate a lithium battery factory sometime this year with an investment of $233 million. It will be built in Mejillones, 65 kilometers north of Antofagasta.
China’s ground stations
Beijing’s ground stations in Latin America, such as Cerro Ventarrones, are a key part of the Chinese space program, but they pose risks to their host countries.
“Ground stations can act as repeaters for satellite communications, but they can also be used to intercept signals or gather information about foreign space operations. In some cases, they could be used to track satellites or military communications,” says Funaiole.
In Chile, Beijing had already built space facilities at the Santiago station before it was sold to the Swedish Space Corporation in 2008. In 2019, China’s activities at the station raised questions after the Swedish Defense Research Agency found that China’s access to the antennas of another ground station could be used for military intelligence gathering and surveillance.
In Argentina’s Neuquén province, the Espacio Lejano Station became operational in 2016. It is run by the China Satellite Launch and Tracking Control General, which is part of the People’s Liberation (PLA) Army Strategic Support Force, the space, cyber, and electronic warfare force of the PLA.
In a recent documentary, Red Moon: Chinese Station in Argentina, Pedro Isern, executive director of the Center for the Study of Open Societies (CESCOS) based in Montevideo, Uruguay, referring to the Espacio Lejano Station, says that “it supposedly has only a civilian dimension and therefore could not have a dual character. It’s obviously false. Yes, deep space can be studied with certain technology, but that same technology can be used to study near space, to intercept information.”
According to a study by the Brookings Institution think tank, this technology can also be used to guide supersonic missiles, which would pose a threat to the entire hemisphere, especially considering that the agreement signed by Argentina grants Beijing’s use and operation of the station for 50 years.
“Many of these stations operate under long-term agreements that give China significant control. This raises questions about the possibility of oversight by local governments,” says Funaiole.
Recently, China has also shown interest in cooperating with the astronomical observatory in Niterói, Brazil, and has signed space cooperation agreements with the Bolivarian Agency for Space Activities (ABAE) of Venezuela. In July 2023, the ABAE signed a joint declaration with Beijing to participate in the International Lunar Research Station (ILRS), planned for 2030.
During the regime of Hugo Chávez, the state-owned company China Great Wall Industry Corporation (CGWIC) built the El Sombrero Satellite Control Ground Station in the Venezuelan state of Guárico, which enables communication, monitoring, and control of Venezuelan satellites. CGWIC is a subsidiary of China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC), a major state defense contractor that manufactures space launchers, missile systems, and other equipment.
“Countries that integrate Chinese space technology into their critical infrastructures could find themselves in a situation of long-term dependence on Beijing,” says Funaiole.
For the expert, “some of the technologies provided by the CGWIC have dual-use applications. While they support scientific and commercial projects, they could also be used for surveillance or information gathering operations.”
