A Chinese company at the center of a political debate over telecommunications infrastructure registered its Chilean business address at the office of a law firm founded by a future member of President José Antonio Kast’s cabinet, according to reports from El Mercurio. The revelation raises questions about potential connections between the project and key political figures.
CMI Chile SpA, a subsidiary of China Mobile International, registered its domicile at the Las Condes office of Barros & Errázuriz, the firm founded by Fernando Barros, who is slated to develop into Kast’s Minister of Defense. The address, located at Isidora Goyenechea N° 2939, office 1001, Torre Bosque Isidora, was included in a decree signed by Transport Minister Juan Carlos Muñoz authorizing the construction of a fiber optic cable connecting Hong Kong and Concón.
Barros & Errázuriz stated they assisted with the establishment of the Chilean branch of the company in August 2025, but denied involvement in securing the concession. Representatives for Barros declined to comment directly, though sources close to him asserted he was not directly involved in negotiations with the Chinese company.
The paperwork for the company’s incorporation was handled by Lucas Varela Barros, son of former Education Minister Gerardo Varela, before a Santiago notary public. Varela joined Barros & Errázuriz as an associate in March 2024, after graduating from the Universidad de Los Andes School of Law in 2023, specializing in mergers and acquisitions and corporate law.
According to company filings, CMI Chile SpA’s stated purpose includes providing a wide range of telecommunications services, including landing services for submarine cables, international telecommunications services, cloud networking, data centers, and digital information and communication technology services. The company’s charter also allows for the acquisition, sale, and development of real estate.
CMI Chile SpA’s initial capital is set at $3 million, divided into 30,000 shares, to be paid within five years of the company’s founding. Shuai Liu and Xuan Chen, representing the parent company China Mobile International UK Limited, are listed as the company’s representatives.
Reports indicate that Liu engaged in lobbying efforts in 2025 with the Undersecretary of Telecommunications, Claudio Araya. The company also retained the services of Francisco Moreno, a lawyer and former Undersecretary of Telecommunications under the administration of Sebastián Piñera.
