Pichetto also does not want a Chinese port in Tierra del Fuego: “It will affect national interests”

In a long thread on Twitter, the General Auditor of the Nation Miguel Angel Pichetto emphatically rejected the construction of a Chinese port in Tierra del Fuego, through the signing of an alleged agreement promoted by the governor Gustavo Melella with the Chinese state-owned Shaanxi Chemical Industry Group. Other opposition leaders had already expressed themselves in the same vein, asking the national government to “stop this madness.”

“Given the possibility of building a port in Tierra del Fuego favorable to Chinese interests and certain Argentine businessmen, The lightness with which Governor Melella handles the matter and the endorsement of the national government is worrisome”added Pichetto, considering that “The construction of this port introduces us into a serious geopolitical conflict and affects our national interests. We cannot allow the greed of privileged businessmen in Tierra del Fuego to lead us to a complex scenario in the South Atlantic.”

For Pichetto, this new Chinese enclave in the south of the country, it is worth remembering that a mysterious Chinese base in Patagonia is already operating is a State problem and that is why he said that “We cannot allow the greed of privileged businessmen in Tierra del Fuego to lead us to a complex scenario in the South Atlantic.”

“If the Chinese presence in southern Argentina is consolidated As a station and shipyard for ships with a projection in Antarctica, the sovereignty and projection of Argentina on that continent is affected”Pichetto specified, noting that this port “It also poses a threat to our relationship with the United States.”

Governor Melella admitted having signed the memorandum with the Chinese state company, but denied that this “implies the existence of a Chinese naval base in the area.” Melella’s agreement with the Shaanxi Chemical Industry Group foresees the possibility of an investment of 1,250 million dollars in a petrochemical pole, and is now under the scrutiny of the Fuegian Legislature.

According to Melella, the agreement with the Chinese includes the installation of a plant to produce 600,000 tons of synthetic ammonia, 900,000 tons of urea and 100,000 tons of glyphosate per year.

price controls

In his thread of tweets, PIchetto also referred to the issue of price controls promoted by President Alberto Fernández, and stated that “The only thing the government lacks is to apply the supply law and give unionists and social movements red shirts like the Bolivarian Chavista guard.”

“What the government does to give power to a union and to social movements to control prices is very risky. This inaugurates parastatal power and is one of the most serious events in the history of democracy,” Pichetto said, claiming que “the president and the Minister of Economy ask the Secretary of Commerce (Matías Tombolini) to resign, ceasing all intervention” in the price chain.

NA/HB