In April 2005 when the Western Hemisphere Subcommittee of the House International Relations Committee met to discuss Chinese involvement in Latin America, administration officials tended to downplay Chinese engagement in the region except in areas related to communications and intelligence. Indeed, globalization, new technologies, and growing Chinese information warfare capabilities make the United States particularly vulnerable to Chinese activity in these strategic areas. China's recent success in Argentina's telecommunications and space industries exemplifies China's increasing effectiveness in strategic developing markets and raises concerns regarding increasing U.S. reliance on international information networks. Chinese companies are aggressively positioning themselves for success in Argentina's telecommunications industry. Relative to other developing markets in Latin America, Argentina has a robust telecommunications sector. In the 1990s, the sector was privatized leading to a period of growth and modernization that was briefly offset by a deep economic crisis in the country in 2002. Despite industry setbacks associated with the crisis, Chinese companies fought for a place in the market as many other international companies were fleeing. U.S. companies like AT&T and Bell South, that quickly set up operations after the 2000 privatization, for example, quickly exited Argentina at the first signs of economic instability. Conversely, the government-backed Chinese companies-Huawei and ZTE-doubled their efforts to gain a foothold in the floundering industry, only to receive dividends as the economy picked up a few years later. These companies first offered technology apt for rural developing markets, then worked their way up the value chain to become suppliers to the country's two main monopolies that operate networks in urban centers. As these two Chinese telecommunications companies grow in Argentina and across the region, U.S. companies continue their retreat, preferring faster, safer returns in developed markets. At a time when the United States is distracted from the Latin America region and is focusing less attention on cooperation with regional governments, Argentina, which has traditionally relied on U.S. space cooperation, is reaching out to China to modernize its space program. In the last few years, China has pushed to become a player in Argentina's space and satellite industry. During President Hu Jintao's visit to Argentina in November 2004, the countries signed a Framework Agreement on "Technology Cooperation in the Peaceful Use of Outer Space," whereby China expressed willingness to provide Argentina with commercial launch services, satellite components, and communication satellite platforms. The Argentine government-through its newly created state satellite company, ARSAT-is taking advantage of China's offer to launch a satellite in the commercially valuable 81 degrees longitude slot, which allows observation of all the Americas. Payment for services and equipment provided by the Chinese will be made through ARSAT stock, which would give the Chinese ownership stake and corresponding voting rights in the Argentine state satellite company. Moreover, the Chinese are interested in assisting Argentina with the development and fielding of low-orbiting, fixed observance satellites and have already provided the South American country with a third generation precision satellite laser ranger (SLR).