SANTIAGO, Chile, March 3 (UPI) -- A Chinese-backed submarine fiber-optic cable project has triggered a diplomatic dispute and an unprecedented political rift in Chile just days before the country's presidential transition.
The Chile China Express cable project, supported by state-owned China Mobile, has drawn criticism from the United States, which accused Chile of jeopardizing its own security and that of the region by moving forward with the initiative.
Tensions escalated during a meeting Tuesday between outgoing President Gabriel Boric and President-elect José Antonio Kast intended to coordinate the transfer of power. The 22-minute meeting ended abruptly amid disagreements over the sharing of information related to the controversial project and other state matters.
Weeks before Boric leaves office, the United States revoked visas for three Chilean government representatives, citing their role in directing and supporting activities that compromise critical telecommunications infrastructure.
In a televised interview, Boric said he had contacted the president-elect to provide details about the Chinese project before the United States imposed the sanctions. Kast denied that any such exchange took place -- a dispute that affected preparatory activities for the change in administration.
