By Alicia Gutiérrez | 2024-10-02

SANTIAGO -- A recent meeting between Chilean Defense Minister Maya Fernández and her Chinese counterpart, Admiral Dong Jun, has sparked significant uncertainty and concern within Chile's political and military circles.

The talks, held in Beijing on September 13 and lasting over an hour, were meant to strengthen relations between Chile and China in the areas of defense and security, the Chilean Ministry of Defense said in a statement.

While Chile has maintained a longstanding relationship with China, it is crucial to distinguish between a robust diplomatic and commercial partnership and a military engagement that raises serious concerns, Alberto Rojas, director of the Observatory of International Affairs at Finis Terrae University, said in an interview with El Mercurio published September 16.

"It’s one thing to maintain a fluid diplomatic and commercial relationship but quite another to deepen military ties at this moment," he told El Mercurio.

The information provided is vague and lacks sufficient detail, leaving unanswered questions about what "expanding military cooperation with China" would truly involve, he said.

"Does this involve the purchase of Chinese military equipment, intelligence collaboration or even joint ... exercises?" he questioned, raising concerns about the specifics of the agreement.

While the Chilean armed forces maintain ties with various countries and buy equipment from different suppliers, Rojas stressed the "importance" of approaching such relationships with a more strategic and longer-term perspective.

The world is in the midst of a new Cold War, with the Washington-Beijing rivalry at its core, he said.

Latin America has become a key battleground in this struggle for influence, he said.

"We need to recognize that the choices our country makes will inevitably carry significant consequences," he stated.

"Trade alliances differ fundamentally from military alliances, as the latter involve critical issues of security and defense," he noted, emphasizing that strengthening ties with an ally requires shared understanding of interests, needs and values.

In 2024, Chile has actively participated in several multinational exercises alongside US Southern Command (SOUTHCOM), he said

These instances "demonstrate a genuine closeness, trust and respect between Chile and the United States in military matters, which could be significantly jeopardized by an uncertain rapprochement with China in this domain," he said.

A 'bad deal'

Similarly, John Griffiths, the former vice commander of the Chilean army and director of security studies at AthenaLab, voiced his concerns following the announcement of the meeting between the defense ministers of China and Chile.

"I hope this doesn't signal a realignment because defense relationships should be built on solid partnerships with established suppliers that foster strategic cooperation. It's not simply about switching allegiances, especially when the weapon systems and military doctrines involved are so vastly different," he stated in an interview with Chilean media outlet Bio Bio TV.

China has emerged as a significant supplier of dual-use technology in Latin America, providing critical equipment such as radar, satellite and surveillance systems, he said.

However, he contends that shifting one's defense alignment toward China would be a "bad deal," as it could jeopardize crucial relationships with traditional allies.

"I hope this visit remains strictly routine and does not involve discussions about acquiring capabilities, as that would represent a significant shift with far-reaching implications for the Chilean armed forces," he stated.

A potential approach of defense and security relations "would signify a fundamental shift in doctrine, training, logistics and specialization," he added.

"Aligning ourselves with a new country could lead our traditional suppliers -- who are essential for maintaining our weapon systems -- to limit their support. Ultimately, this would constitute a very unfavorable deal," he argued.

A serious problem

In a mid-September article in the local newspaper La Tercera, Jorge Bustos, a former Chilean defense minister, emphasized the importance of gaining a deeper understanding of what the press release referred to as "reactivat[ing] mutual defense cooperation" and "increas[ing] maritime security cooperation."

"We must exercise extreme caution and prudence regarding defense agreements with non-democratic countries. It's also important to remember that our air, sea and land weapon systems are all of Western origin," he said.

Chile should definitely maintain a positive relationship with China, its largest trading partner, agreed Santiago mayoral candidate Mario Desbordes. He too is a former defense minister.

However, "our country has systems aligned with NATO and Israel as partners and allies, making it challenging to shift both from a technical perspective and a geopolitical standpoint," he said.

China's backing of regimes like Russia, Iran, North Korea, Venezuela and Cuba poses a significant challenge on the international landscape, he said.

Pending summons

The House of Representatives' Defense Committee, chaired by Camila Flores, announced on September 16 plans to summon Fernández.

"I will request that the minister of defense attend the Defense Committee to clarify the reasons and objectives behind her bilateral meeting with the Chinese defense ministry," she stated in an interview with El Mercurio.

"It is extremely troubling that the government is engaging in defense relations with a country that is, quite frankly, undemocratic. I fail to see what benefits this could bring to Chile. On the contrary, it casts us in a negative light internationally and poses a significant risk to our national defense," she cautioned.

Unsuitable partner

El Mercurio has published letters on the significance of Fernández's meeting with Dong.

Journalist Karin Ebensperger Ahrens expressed concern in her letter, stating that increased military cooperation with China poses a risk.

"Such a partnership could heighten the likelihood of dangerous interference by the Chinese Communist Party ... in Chile's strategic security, potentially straining relations with Western allies," she said.

Manfred Wilhelmy, a professor of international relations at the University of Chile, echoed this sentiment. The issue is "extremely sensitive and warrants a comprehensive and thorough debate," he said.

Converging with China on defense and security is "not in Chile's national interest," he said, citing several compelling reasons.

"China has an authoritarian regime led by a hegemonic party with aspirations for regional and global dominance, governed by principles that significantly differ from those deemed legitimate in Chile," he said.