BEIJING, Dec 10 - China and Brazil have begun building a joint laboratory for space technologies, Chinese state-owned defence electronics firm CETC said, deepening scientific ties as the two countries push ahead with a major telescope ‍project in ​South America.

The growing cooperation contrasts with recent U.S. pressure on Latin ‍American countries to cut or minimize ties with China, including in space. Two Chinese telescope projects in Chile and Argentina have ​been ​frozen since U.S. President Donald Trump returned to the White House, as leaders in the region seek to curry favour and avoid punishing tariff rates.

U.S. officials have described these Chinese telescopes as tools that could ‍be used by Beijing to increase its surveillance capabilities over American soil and Washington's activities in a region ​it considers crucial for homeland defence. China has ⁠responded by accusing Washington of interference and politicising scientific cooperation.

CETC's Network Communications Research Institute signed an agreement with Brazil's Federal University of Campina Grande and the Federal University of Paraíba to establish the China–Brazil Joint Laboratory for Radio Astronomy Technology. 

BINGO HELPS STUDY ​UNIVERSE'S STRUCTURE AND DARK ENERGY

CETC said on Tuesday the joint laboratory would support frontier research for astronomical observation and deep-space exploration.

The ‌laboratory initiative comes as China and Brazil make ​progress on the BINGO radio telescope, designed to help study the universe's structure and dark energy.

In June, CETC said the main structure of the telescope had been completed at a manufacturing site in China and shipped from the port of Tianjin to Brazil. The instrument, billed as South America's largest radio telescope, is scheduled for completion in 2026.

Beyond research, BINGO will also be capable of tracking satellites, meteoroids and other small bodies, CETC said, adding that ‍the system could help identify potential threats from near-Earth...