BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (AP) 鈥� China and the United States are in Argentina as President Javier Milei seeks to preserve his close alliance with Washington while pursuing deeper economic ties with Beijing.
China鈥檚 embassy in Buenos Aires accused the United States of hypocrisy on Thursday after an electricity cooperative in Argentina鈥檚 Neuquen province said the U.S. Embassy threatened to revoke its executives鈥� visas over an agreement with Chinese telecommunications giant Huawei.
鈥淭hese actions fully reflect the arrogance and prejudice of the United States. They constitute a serious lack of respect for the sovereignty of other countries and a serious infringement of the principles of the free market,鈥� the embassy said in a statement.
It added that the United States should 鈥渃orrect its perception of China and put an end to its hegemonic practices and political maneuvering.鈥�
The diplomatic clash comes as Milei walks a , remaining one of U.S. President Donald Trump鈥檚 closest allies in the region while deepening commercial ties with China, one of Argentina鈥檚 top trading partners.
On Wednesday, Argentina renewed its bilateral currency swap agreement with China for another five years, reinforcing financial cooperation between the two countries. Foreign Minister Pablo Quirno is also expected to visit China in the coming months to strengthen economic and commercial ties. Quirno’s office declined to comment.
China鈥檚 statement came days after CALF, the largest electricity distributor in southern Argentina, alleged that its executives had been threatened with the revocation of their U.S. visas for negotiating with Chinese technology giant Huawei. The cooperative said in a statement that an executive received messages through WhatsApp warning that U.S. visa restrictions could apply to those involved in expanding Huawei鈥檚 operations in Argentina.
CALF announced in July that it would expand its strategic partnership with Huawei to advance the expansion of its connectivity network in Neuquen.
, did not respond to a request to comment but wrote on social platform X: 鈥淒eciding who may enter the country and who may not is the responsibility of every sovereign nation. Denying or revoking a visa is not a punishment; it is a decision made to protect the country鈥檚 security and interests.鈥�
CALF said on Thursday that Lamelas had sent the cooperative a letter requesting a meeting and offering assistance in evaluating technological alternatives from U.S. companies. According to CALF, the ambassador also confirmed that the messages sent to one of its managers via WhatsApp reflected official U.S. policy.
The Argentine Federation of Electricity and Public Services Cooperatives (FACE), which represents electricity and public service cooperatives across the country, said on Thursday that its members 鈥渄o not respond to corporate interests or geopolitical strategies鈥� and that any disputes should be resolved through 鈥渋nstitutional, transparent and respectful dialogue.鈥�
FACE added that it would formally request a meeting with Lamelas.
Milei鈥檚 balancing act
The Trump administration has stepped up efforts to , increasingly invoking what officials describe as a modern-day version of the 鈥� the 1823 policy warning European powers against interference in the Western Hemisphere.
The U.S. has and threatened to reassert U.S. control over the in the ongoing geopolitical dispute.
Milei has become one of Trump鈥檚 closest allies in the region and, during his presidential campaign, referred to China鈥檚 Communist government as 鈥渁ssassins.鈥�
Washington has backed his administration with political and financial support, including to boost Milei’s and halt the peso鈥檚 precipitous slide. Yet nearly three years into his presidency, Argentine markets and economic ties with Beijing have continued to deepen.
E-commerce platforms such as Shein, Temu and AliExpress have become some of the most popular shopping apps in Argentina, more than 20 Chinese automakers now sell over 60 models in the country, and China鈥檚 Ganfeng Lithium has poured billions of dollars into lithium deposits in the country鈥檚 north.
鈥淚n some ways, Trump has given Argentina breathing room,鈥� Benjamin Gedan, senior fellow and director of the Latin America Program at the Stimson Center, told The Associated Press. 鈥淏ut deals with Huawei are often a red line for the United States鈥� because they tend to involve sensitive infrastructure and strategic assets, he added.
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