Unsurprisingly, Chilean “visitors” deported from the US topped the list of nations with Visa Waiver status in 2022.
En la lista de los países que cuentan con la Visa Waiver y que tuvieron mayor número de deportados desde EE.UU. el año pasado se ubican, por debajo de Chile, España con 165, Italia con 102, Reino Unido también con 102 y Alemania con 50.
Its even more of an issue than this report states, as Chile, with its 17M inhabitants, managed to provoke more deportations than the other four countries combined, whose total population of around 200M clearly represents a much greater number of visitors.
I was expecting Chile to lose VWP status but it didn’t. I believe Boric and Co. agreed to follow all Agenda 2030 and other UN and WEF mandates and thus the reapproval.
Chileans often deliberately ignore the sources of doubtful items, and don’t think twice before acquiring “bargains”, often stolen goods sold well below their true value.
Part of the current crime wave is a result of this dishonest mentality, as large market already exists for thieved items.
Paradoxically, some of the same people who criticize the current state of lawlessness have no qualms in buying stolen goods. They don’t, or won’t, recognize that, as Chileans say, “la culpa no es del chancho, sino del que le da el afrecho” ie, that this attitude only encourages theft.
The usual social excuses of poverty, inequality, and lack of opportunity dont apply, as shown in this example, where members of Chile’s farandula classes are being accused of reselling luxury items stolen abroad. The Rolex watches etc, are shipped back here because there is no lack of potential buyers amongst the well-heeled.
.
There is a bigger picture. The US has maintained Chile’s Visa Waiver status, in spite of the issues already mentioned, as they see it as an important element in their efforts to combat increasing Chinese influence in Chile.
The Chilean communist party (PC) plays a strong role in his government (ministers, under-secretaries and advisers in more than half the ministries, in the Presidency, Defense, Interior, General Secretary of Government, Finance, Labor, Sciences, Energy, Mining, Education, Justice, Transport and Communications).2 Furthermore, PC ties with the Chinese communist party (CCP) could influence Boric’s stance towards international relations, specifically US-China rivalry. The new government has already ceased to criticize the war in Ukraine. China’s presence in Chile will continue to grow.
China is currently in talks with Chile to gain access to Punta Arenas so it can resupply its Antarctic bases from there.
Contrast that with the government’s recent refusal to allow a Royal Navy frigate to dock in Punta Arenas or Valparaiso…
A US State Department analysis available here only confirms this trend.
At the receiving end of Chile’s international theft rings.
“No hay crimen organizado de bandas que roban en el extranjero sin la ayuda de personal de la PDI y Aduanas”
miércoles recién pasado se había detenido a 23 personas vinculadas con una banda local con este “giro delictual” que, luego, reducían los artículos de lujo sustraídos y “lavaban” sus ganancias ilícitas en territorio nacional.*
Huh? (or rather, WTF?) Chinese vessels put in at Punta Arenas already. And resupply there. Have for years. People in our office were invited aboard the Chinese “Antarctic science ship” Xiang Yang Hong that put in at Punta Arenas. And it’s a common sight to see Chinese boats moored just off the Punta Arenas port.
The Chinese base on King George Island is just around the corner from the Chilean base. There is good cooperation. I’ve even helped some of the Chinese staff from those ships for their shopping for supplies at the Sodimac in Punta Arenas.
Its unclear as to whether that article was referring to resupplying Antarctica with locally-purchased items, which hardly bears consideration, or whether they want a transshipment facility directly from China, which, given Chile’s restrictive cabotaje regulations, would require serious discussion.
I think the misunderstandings or ambiguity result from trying to use the “news” from South China Morning Post. That source may be ill-informed in talking about “aerial and maritime transport of [Chinese] personnel and material to its labs in Antarctica” since that capacity already exists and has for some time.
Several countries, including China, are using Basler BT67 aircraft, DC-3 planes modified for Antarctic use, initially to be operated by Canadian crews. I’m pretty sure that at least one of those I have seen at the FACH base in Punta Arenas were Chinese… but maybe not.
