NEW SPACE ORDER
Imran Khan
January 23, 2007
According to various news reports, on 11th January, 2007 China secretly carried out its first test of an anti-satellite weapon. The test was a success and Chinese military used a ground-based missile to hit and destroy one of its aging satellites orbiting more than 500 miles in space. Till now China declined to deny or confirm the apparent test. Last test of an anti-satellite weapon was conducted by the United States in 1985, and Soviet Union also carried out such kind of tests from 1968 to 1982.
United States have many Spy and military satellites in the space. These satellites orbit closer to the Earth and the Chinese test has showed their capabilities to hit a satellite, pose a serious threat to destroy them. America heavily relies on these satellites for intelligence, military movements, missile and nuclear tests any where in the world.
In recent years China tried to setup an international conference in United Nations to stop space arms race. The United States rejected the plan that there is no such arms race in space. Instead in August 2006, United States administration issued a new national space policy that ignored calls for a global ban on such tests. The policy said the United States would “deny, if necessary, adversaries the use of space capabilities hostile to U.S. national interests.” and “preserve its rights, capabilities, and freedom of action in space”. According to reports, United States conducting a secret search on new technologies for anti-satellite weapons using lasers.
Surely Chinese did not like US attitude of ignoring their calls for arms race ban in space and than issuance of such a policy. In fact the recent test of anti-satellite weapon was not the first response to US. In September 2006, China used a ground-based laser to illuminate one US satellite. It was first sign that China does not like US spy satellites above its territory and developing a system to blind imaging satellites. Current test was the second move by China.
A common believe in United States is that after the collapse of Soviet Union, there is no other power in the world which could match their capabilities in space. So why to listen others if someone could not pose any threats and apparently that was the basic reason behind United States refusal to accept any ban of space arms race.
Since 1999 China started to modernize its military and space program. In October 2003, china became only the third nation after Russia and the United States to launch its own manned space mission. Chinese always maintained intense Secrecy for all of their military and space programs. In fact on 11th January, 2007 (the day the Chinese conducted their test) at a public hearing to the congress, the heads of US intelligence agencies, presented their annual threats assessments against United States, did not mention any threats from Chinese space program. Though now it would be a different story still it shows that United States intelligence agencies had no clues about China’s ambitions in space.
United States officially criticized Chinese actions and spokesman of the National Security Council has said "The U.S. believes China's development and testing of such weapons is inconsistent with the spirit of cooperation that both countries aspire to in the civil space area," Japan, Canada, Australia, United Kingdom and South Korea have also criticized Chinese test. All are the allies of United States.
But notably Chinese played the entire episode very intelligently. In their arguments Chinese could easily say that they initiated moves to ban arms race in space but United States did not listen, so all they blame could not be put only on them for starting of a new arms race in space.
After conducting this test China also given strong signal for a new space order which will certainly lead to the exploration of many new areas, especially now United States will try to build a system which could protect its spy and other satellites in space from any anti-satellite weapons. On the other hand, United States will be also thinking to sit at the negotiating table for arms race ban treaty in space as they have found out a new strong competitor in space.
United States have many Spy and military satellites in the space. These satellites orbit closer to the Earth and the Chinese test has showed their capabilities to hit a satellite, pose a serious threat to destroy them. America heavily relies on these satellites for intelligence, military movements, missile and nuclear tests any where in the world.
In recent years China tried to setup an international conference in United Nations to stop space arms race. The United States rejected the plan that there is no such arms race in space. Instead in August 2006, United States administration issued a new national space policy that ignored calls for a global ban on such tests. The policy said the United States would “deny, if necessary, adversaries the use of space capabilities hostile to U.S. national interests.” and “preserve its rights, capabilities, and freedom of action in space”. According to reports, United States conducting a secret search on new technologies for anti-satellite weapons using lasers.
Surely Chinese did not like US attitude of ignoring their calls for arms race ban in space and than issuance of such a policy. In fact the recent test of anti-satellite weapon was not the first response to US. In September 2006, China used a ground-based laser to illuminate one US satellite. It was first sign that China does not like US spy satellites above its territory and developing a system to blind imaging satellites. Current test was the second move by China.
A common believe in United States is that after the collapse of Soviet Union, there is no other power in the world which could match their capabilities in space. So why to listen others if someone could not pose any threats and apparently that was the basic reason behind United States refusal to accept any ban of space arms race.
Since 1999 China started to modernize its military and space program. In October 2003, china became only the third nation after Russia and the United States to launch its own manned space mission. Chinese always maintained intense Secrecy for all of their military and space programs. In fact on 11th January, 2007 (the day the Chinese conducted their test) at a public hearing to the congress, the heads of US intelligence agencies, presented their annual threats assessments against United States, did not mention any threats from Chinese space program. Though now it would be a different story still it shows that United States intelligence agencies had no clues about China’s ambitions in space.
United States officially criticized Chinese actions and spokesman of the National Security Council has said "The U.S. believes China's development and testing of such weapons is inconsistent with the spirit of cooperation that both countries aspire to in the civil space area," Japan, Canada, Australia, United Kingdom and South Korea have also criticized Chinese test. All are the allies of United States.
But notably Chinese played the entire episode very intelligently. In their arguments Chinese could easily say that they initiated moves to ban arms race in space but United States did not listen, so all they blame could not be put only on them for starting of a new arms race in space.
After conducting this test China also given strong signal for a new space order which will certainly lead to the exploration of many new areas, especially now United States will try to build a system which could protect its spy and other satellites in space from any anti-satellite weapons. On the other hand, United States will be also thinking to sit at the negotiating table for arms race ban treaty in space as they have found out a new strong competitor in space.
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