China and Brazil forge space partnership despite U.S. warnings of surveillance risks

• China and Brazil launch a joint space lab despite U.S. diplomatic pressure.
• The project centers on a major new radio telescope.
• The U.S. warns the technology could be used for military surveillance.
• The telescope will have dual-use capabilities for tracking space objects.
• This partnership signals a shift in global space alliances and influence.

China and Brazil have officially begun constructing a joint laboratory for space technologies in a bold move that defies American diplomatic pressure.  This collaboration, spearheaded by the Chinese state-owned defense electronics giant CETC, signals a deepening of scientific ties between Beijing and a major Latin American power. The partnership centers on the ambitious BINGO radio telescope project, slated for completion in Brazil by 2026, and highlights a growing divide in global space alliances.

The initiative stands in direct contrast to recent efforts by the United States to persuade Latin American nations to minimize their ties with China. This pressure has had a tangible effect, with two separate Chinese telescope projects in Chile and Argentina frozen since the return of U.S. President Donald Trump to the White House. Regional leaders, wary of punitive U.S. tariff rates, have put those projects on hold.

U.S. officials have consistently framed such Chinese-built telescopes as potential surveillance tools. They argue the technology could be used by Beijing to increase its surveillance capabilities over American soil and monitor U.S. activities in a region it considers crucial for homeland defense. China has dismissed these claims, accusing Washington of interference and politicizing scientific cooperation.

The new China-Brazil Joint Laboratory for Radio Astronomy Technology was established through an agreement between CETC’s Network Communications Research Institute and two Brazilian federal universities. CETC stated the lab will support frontier research in astronomical observation and deep-space exploration.

This laboratory work dovetails with concrete progress on the BINGO telescope. In June, CETC announced the main structure of the instrument was completed in China and shipped to Brazil. Billed as South America’s largest radio telescope, its primary scientific mission is to study the universe’s structure and dark energy.

Dual-use capabilities raise concerns

However, the project’s capabilities extend beyond pure science. CETC has stated BINGO will also be capable of tracking satellites, meteoroids, and other near-Earth objects to identify potential threats. This functionality crosses into the realm of space situational awareness, a critical military domain.

A 2022 report by the U.S. Defense Intelligence Agency notes that powerful telescopes can predict when U.S. military satellites pass overhead and help coordinate the use of anti-satellite weapons. The successful development of such weapons by China and Russia has already placed U.S. space assets, which are vital for intelligence and weapon systems, in a more vulnerable position.

The Brazil partnership fits a long-established pattern. For more than two decades, Beijing has used its rapidly improving space capabilities as a diplomatic tool to increase influence across Asia, Africa, and South America. This involves installing telescopes, building satellites, and training foreign personnel.

This strategy has seen significant success in Africa, where China has forged nearly two dozen space partnerships. As a former U.S. intelligence officer, Nicholas Eftimiades, observed, “China has democratized space to enhance its authoritarian capabilities … and it’s doing so very effectively.” These projects often grant Beijing access to data and a persistent presence in the facilities it builds.

While the U.S. warns of the security risks, many nations are more focused on the immediate benefits of Chinese investment and technology transfer. The U.S. approach, which has recently involved pulling back on foreign aid and development partnerships, has created an opening China is eager to fill.

The new joint lab is more than a scientific venture; it is a geopolitical statement. It demonstrates that despite intense U.S. lobbying, China can still secure strategic partnerships in America’s traditional sphere of influence. As the race for space dominance accelerates, these collaborations are not just about peering into the cosmos, but about securing loyalty, influence, and potentially, a critical tactical advantage on the final frontier. The stars are aligning, and the map of global space alliances is being redrawn.

Sources for this article include:

StraitsTimes.com

Reuters.com

Reuters.com