The former president Jose Mujica suggested to the president Luis Lacalle Pou apologize to China for not having bought the two ocean patrols (OPV) that the Ministry of Defence ended up commissioning the Galician shipyard cardamacausing Beijing to send a letter of complaint to the Parliament.
“It is partly a diplomatic error, a lack of knowing how the Chinese proceed. They write down everything, they are prolific. Going to speak with a Chinese diplomat is knowing that there are three or four who are listening over there and writing down everything, down to the last detail “Mujica said this Sunday, Telemundo reported. “The Chinese send ambassadors who can speak Spanish and who were previously educated in Latin American universities. They do not improvise anything,” he added.
Asked if the discomfort of China due to the government’s refusal to acquire the state company China Shipbuilding Trade (CSTC) the two IPOs may affect the negotiations for a Free Trade Agreement (FTA), José Mujica responded: “I think they won’t affect us, but they are going to give us a slap on the ear, yes. If I were the president I would apologize, humbly, in some way. Because it’s convenient for us, it’s not to humiliate ourselves. We It’s convenient because the Chinese market cannot be ignored. If you buy, you benefit, if you don’t buy, you make a hole for us”.
China’s claim to Parliament
The China Shipbuilding Trade company led the Senate Defense Committee a harsh letter in which he reviews the twists and turns in the call for bids for the purchase of two ocean patrols (OPVs), to end by criticizing the lack of seriousness of the process.
“Being Uruguay a country recognized internationally for its adherence to rules and procedures, how is it possible that bids were handled and quotes requested outside the process, when the bidding process was still open?” CSTC questioned about the contacts that Defense had with Spanish companies, for one of which he ended up choosing.
Defense Minister, javier garciadefended the purchase of the two ocean patrols and assured that the government “made a legitimate decision” and that the purchase process is now under study by the Court of Accounts. “There were all the guarantees” and there was “absolute transparency” throughout the process, with the participation, even, of the opposition, he stressed.
Source: Ambito
