[Text/Observer Network Xiong Chaoyan] Recently, it has been reported that the United States is pressuring Chile to obstruct the normal astronomical research project "TOM" conducted by China and the Northern Catholic University of Chile (UCN) in this South American country. This incident has not only caused great controversy, but has not yet subsided, and has also involved another university - the University of Chile.

According to reports by the Chilean media El Ciudadano, which first exposed the incident, the newspaper published a follow-up report on April 25, stating that the Chilean Foreign Ministry had indicated that the project could be advanced after being legally assessed by the University of Chile. However, precisely due to the instructions from the Chilean Foreign Ministry, the University of Chile ultimately did not sign the agreement.

Therefore, El Ciudadano believes that while naming the University of Chile, the Chilean Foreign Ministry's proposed solution and its own actions clearly contradict each other.

A local legal expert also expressed similar doubts and bluntly stated that all the University of Chile needs to do is confirm some issues regarding imported materials and foreign personnel involved in the cooperation, rather than approve whether the project should proceed. Moreover, the governments of China and Chile signed a framework agreement as early as 2016.

The Paranal Observatory in the Atacama Desert region of Antofagasta, Chile, is one of the three observation sites of the European Southern Observatory (ESO). The picture shows four telescopes, with the Milky Way in the background. A few kilometers away, China is advancing the construction of the Ventarrones Observatory. Photo source: Material.

The TOM project, short for Transient Objects Monitoring, falls under the category of time-domain astronomy. Its aim is to observe various time-domain astronomical events such as supernovae, gamma-ray bursts, electromagnetic counterparts of gravitational waves, and celestial bodies within the solar system through sky survey telescopes. It holds significant importance for revealing major scientific issues such as the origin and evolution of stars, the nature of black holes, the state of neutron stars, and the origin of heavy elements in the universe.

In the latest report on April 25, the Chilean Foreign Ministry told El Ciudadano that the project could be advanced through another university, the University of Chile, and stated: "If the project is submitted for processing through the University of Chile, it should be legally evaluated by the university regarding its relevance and feasibility."

Does the university's self-assessment mean it will pass smoothly? However, according to information obtained by El Ciudadano, an agreement draft had already been formulated between China and the University of Chile. However, sources revealed that due to the instructions from the Chilean Foreign Ministry, the University of Chile ultimately did not sign the agreement. When contacted for comment, the university president refused to comment on the matter.

The report states that the Chinese Embassy in Chile said that last year, China and the University of Chile attempted to sign an agreement and reached a consensus. "However, the agreement was vetoed by the Chilean Foreign Ministry, and we cannot understand this."

El Ciudadano also questioned the Chilean Foreign Ministry about why other international entities can collaborate directly with the University of Chile without review, while this particular project involving China requires review.

In response, the Chilean Foreign Ministry stated that universities and other institutions can indeed sign international agreements in various fields, and not all agreements require review. However, regarding astronomical observation matters, Chile has specific legislation. If a university wishes to conduct projects in this field, it must comply with a law promulgated long ago, which authorizes the University of Chile as the sole institution to evaluate and formulate such agreements because only authorized national institutions can grant the privileges and exemptions associated with these agreements.

El Ciudadano verified that this law, promulgated in 1963, primarily concerns tax exemptions for materials and equipment required for the construction of astronomical observatories, rather than involving cooperation between two scientific entities.

"Considering the import of equipment and technology involved in the project design, it seems reasonable for the University of Chile to participate. But what is puzzling is why they block it after proposing this solution path?" A local legal expert told El Ciudadano that the university president only needs to confirm that the imported materials are indeed for the use of the astronomical observatory and that the foreign personnel are indeed coming to participate in the project, rather than judge the execution of the project. Moreover, there was already an intergovernmental agreement between the two countries in 2016.

Finally, El Ciudadano again asked the Chilean Foreign Ministry whether, according to relevant laws, the University of Chile has the authority to independently sign international agreements without the consent of the Chilean Foreign Ministry if these agreements do not involve the Chilean government?

The Chilean Foreign Ministry replied that since this case involves an agreement signed between the private University of the Northern Catholic University of Chile and a Chinese entity (National Astronomical Observatory of the Chinese Academy of Sciences), the legal department of the Foreign Ministry is currently assessing the scope of the agreement. Given that multiple media reports described this as an astronomical observation project, this prompted the Foreign Ministry to fully determine the nature of the agreement.

The Chilean Foreign Ministry stated: "We are in contact with the University of the Northern Catholic University of Chile and the Chinese Embassy in Chile to provide guidance, ensuring that China and other international participants can have the same options and safeguards when conducting this or any other project, and always comply with current Chilean laws."

El Ciudadano reported that the current events and the controversies they have triggered have prompted the Chilean House of Representatives to write to the country's Foreign Ministry. Even the Senate Speaker issued a statement, saying that given the obstruction of this scientific cooperation in the field of astronomy, and considering the recent attack on a hydropower station under construction by a Chinese company, it is necessary at this time to show "friendly gestures" towards China.

Although the University of Chile has been hindered, the cooperation with the University of the Northern Catholic University of Chile is not yet finalized. The report cited the statement from the Chinese Embassy in Chile: "We have noticed reports by some media claiming that the Chilean government has allegedly 'frozen' the Sino-Chilean astronomical cooperation project TOM. We understand that this information is inaccurate. Currently, the cooperating parties of the TOM project are communicating with the Chilean government to jointly study the next steps for the project."

The Chinese Embassy in Chile also stated: "We believe that Chile will adhere to its independent stance and advocate open, fair, just, and non-discriminatory international scientific cooperation. We reiterate that we oppose any third party's interference in the normal astronomical and technological cooperation between the two countries that they autonomously conduct."

Exterior view of the University of Chile, Wikipedia.

Recently, a London-based company named "Grey Dynamics" wrote a report claiming that China established the TOM project out of military needs. On the company's official website, the homepage article describes the TOM project as the "fifth overseas node of China's global space surveillance network," claiming that China built this observatory to become a "space superpower."

It is worth noting that "Grey Dynamics" describes itself on its website as a company "dedicated to democratizing intelligence." Furthermore, neither the "chief lecturer" nor the "intelligence academy manager" shy away from mentioning their previous career as a U.S. Defense Department analyst in their personal introductions.

While "Grey Dynamics" was smearing the TOM project, U.S. politicians also stepped in, using the TOM project as a talking point. Senator Jeanne Shaheen made similar smear campaigns against the project as "Grey Dynamics." Additionally, former U.S. Ambassador to Chile Bernadette Meehan once pressured Chile to cancel its cooperation with China on the TOM project.

Brandon Judd, the candidate nominated by President Trump for the position of U.S. Ambassador to Chile, recently made sensational remarks about the TOM project during a hearing, expressing concern about China's growing influence in Latin America, particularly in Chile. He claimed that if confirmed, he would seek to "limit China's access to Chile's resources," especially in the fields of space and technology.

Judd stated: "Chile is one of the strongest 'democratic nations' in our region. President Boric and his government recognize the importance of strengthening citizens' rights. We can cooperate with the Chileans. What we can offer is far more than what China can provide." He also claimed: "We need to build on existing resources and limit China's access to the resources available in Chile."

In addition, some foreign media outlets, including Agence France-Presse, have since March described the TOM project as "China building an astronomical observatory in the 'backyard' of the United States" in their reports. While渲染ing "China's encroachment on Western countries' exclusive territories," they implied that "America's concerns about the project are understandable."

On April 16, the Chinese Embassy in Chile clearly explained the nature of the TOM project in a statement: The project fully complies with Chilean laws, and upon completion, it will allow international observatories to submit observation time proposals, contributing to global scientific discovery collaborations. Furthermore, there are many similar sky survey devices like TOM around the world; the U.S. itself has invested in and constructed the Vera Rubin Observatory Large Sky Survey Telescope (LSST), the Pan-STARRS project, the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS), the Catalina Sky Survey (CSS), and several other projects in Chile.

Based on this, the Chinese Embassy in Chile sternly refuted Judd's remarks, accusing the U.S.'s hegemonic actions of attempting to interfere with Chile's right to choose international partners: "The U.S. deliberately concealed the fact that the scientific nature of the LSST telescope is completely consistent with TOM and covers all the scientific research goals of the TOM project, spreading false information about TOM, and obstructing normal astronomical and technological cooperation between China and Chile. This is an unambiguous new Monroe Doctrine act, and the U.S. attempt will not succeed."

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Original text: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7497907173831131684/

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