Overview
- U.S. officials say the China Mobile–backed Chile China Express could threaten sovereignty and regional telecommunications security.
- Chile’s government says the project remains under evaluation after a Jan. 27 concession was granted and then annulled two days later.
- Ambassador Brandon Judd said he warned Santiago about cyberattacks by “malicious foreign actors” targeting local telecoms and received no response.
- President Gabriel Boric condemned the visa bans, and Transport Minister Juan Carlos Muñoz was identified as one of the three sanctioned officials.
- Lawmakers plan a confidential review and possible investigations in March, while the dispute features in a broader Trump administration push to counter Chinese influence before a Miami summit.