A group of national deputies linked to the 'La Libertad Avanza' political movement has become embroiled in a major political and institutional scandal. It has been revealed that the lawmakers who recently traveled to Beijing had previously voted for tax benefits for Chinese companies, sparking internal questions in Congress and accusations of potential transnational bribes.
The trip to China was organized at the invitation of the Chinese government and caused discomfort in political circles closely monitoring President Javier Milei's international alignment, especially his strategic ties with former U.S. President Donald Trump. According to media reports, the delegation's travel and accommodation were covered by the Chinese technology company Huawei, not by the Chamber of Deputies.
The controversy deepened when it emerged that all participants in the trip had voted in 2024 for a bilateral agreement between Argentina and China aimed at preventing double taxation and fiscal evasion. This point raised additional alarms, as Huawei has repeatedly been cited by the United States as a company closely linked to the Chinese state, an accusation the company has systematically denied without clearing the suspicions in Washington.
Amid the criticism, the libertarian deputies themselves tried to distance themselves from the scandal, clarifying that the trip was not funded with public funds. The President of the Chamber of Deputies, Martín Menem, came out publicly to confirm that the visit did not entail expenses for Congress.
