JF-17 for Argentina: Argentine ambassador to China spoke of «historic cooperation»

The Argentine ambassador to China met with CATIC representatives to analyze the progress of defense cooperation between the two countries, and in particular the possible acquisition of Sino-Pakistani JF-17 Thunder fighters.

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According to TELAM (Argentine state news service), the Argentine ambassador to Beijing, Sabino Vaca Narvaja, met last Thursday with representatives of China National Aero-Technology Import & Export Corporation (CATIC) to analyze the progress of the project for the possible acquisition of JF-17 Thunder aircraft, within the framework of the XIV China International Aviation and Aerospace Exhibition, also known as Airshow China 222, which opened in the port city of Zhuhai, Guangdong province.

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Vaca Narvaja said that the cooperation project proposed by the Ministry of Defense could be «historic and transcendental for our country and our defense system and would remain in the history of the Argentine Armed Forces«. He also pointed out that the Minister of Defense, Jorge Taiana, was the Argentine Foreign Minister when the cooperation with CATIC was initiated, marking a continuity in the scheme of relations with China initiated during the government of the current Vice President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner.

During the press conference, the ambassador highlighted «the importance of cooperation with China in defense matters because the aircraft produced by CATIC do not incorporate technology from any country with any restriction on their sale to our country».

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«Defense cooperation with China has no conditions and is the way to consolidate our territorial sovereignty«, emphasized Vaca Narvaja. The statements of the representative in China are in addition to those of the head of the Defense Ministry, Jorge Taiana, who months ago expressed that «the relationship with China will take a leap forward in military matters«.

The Argentine embassy in China also clarified that defense cooperation with China is not limited to the possibility of acquiring JF-17 aircraft. According to information provided, with China North Industries Group Corporation Limited (NORINCO) the government is advancing in a project that would contemplate not only the acquisition of 8×8 armored vehicles, which are used in peace missions and requested by the Argentine Army, but also the possible installation in Argentina of a plant for the manufacture of these vehicles.

In all the meetings on defense matters, the diplomat maintained as a fundamental idea that cooperation with China should include productive interlinking for the Argentine military ecosystem.