10 articles · Updated · The New York Times · May 10
At the Cesco observatory in San Juan, key final parts have been held at customs for about nine months, leaving the unfinished telescope idle.
The project, which would be South America's largest radio telescope of its kind, was stopped after repeated US pressure over possible military use and Argentine findings of procedural violations.
The dispute reflects intensifying US-China rivalry in Latin America and space, after Chile last year also stopped a Chinese observatory project in the Atacama Desert.
Are China's South American projects peaceful infrastructure or a hidden network for military and space dominance?
Will America's billion-dollar pushback work, or is China's economic grip on the region now too strong to break?
Argentina’s $350 Million CART Radio Telescope Suspended Amid US-China Geopolitical Tensions
Overview
The $350 million China-Argentina Radio Telescope (CART) project was abruptly halted in May 2026, leaving the telescope at the Cesco observatory in San Juan Province unfinished. This suspension followed the formal withdrawal of support from CONICET, a key Argentine institution, and was further complicated by crucial equipment being held in customs since December 2024. These issues created a major bureaucratic and logistical impasse, stalling the project. With no official communication about its future, the fate of the delivered equipment and existing infrastructure remains uncertain, raising concerns about potential degradation or obsolescence.