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China grounds space force talk
Posted on 11 November 2009
November.10 (China Military News cited from chinadaily) Earlier this month, Air Force Commander Xu Qiliang of the Peoples Liberation Army said that competition between military forces is shifting to space in an interview with Xinhua.
Not so fast, said Foreign Ministry spokesman Ma Zhaoxu. At a regular news briefing yesterday, he said that the direction of Chinas space program is for only peaceful ventures.
I want to point out China has all along upheld the peaceful use of outer space. We oppose the weaponization of outer space or a space arms race, Ma said. China has never and will not participate in an outer space arms race in any form. The position of China on this point remains unchanged.
PLA Air Force Space Object Tracking Facilities
In the interview, Xu said we must build a space force that conforms with the needs of our nations development, the demands of space age development and good for regional stability and world peace.
His comments triggered speculation about the intention of the nations space program at a time when its development has skyrocketed.
Chinas first lunar probe, the Change-1 satellite, finished its mission in October 2008.
Last year, three Chinese astronauts completed the countrys first spacewalk during a 68-hour voyage. The Chinese air force is also celebrating its 60th anniversary next week.
The AFP said Xus remarks sparked speculation of a possible shift in Chinas military policy. The Straits Times, a newspaper in Singapore, quoted analysts as saying Xus comment signals a turning point in Chinas military posture.
Long Range Radar used by PLA Air Force
United States General Kevin Chilton, who heads the US Strategic Command, even said on Tuesday he wanted more information on Chinas position when asked about Xus remarks.
Beijings space program is an area that well want to explore and understand exactly what Chinas intentions are here, and why they might want to go in that direction and what grounds might accommodate a different direction, Reuters quoted him as saying.
But Xu said in the interview that the Peoples Liberation Army Air Force will never pose a military threat to any country.
He specified that the air forces only purpose was to guard Chinas security.
Zhai Dequan, deputy director of China Arms Control and Disarmament Association, said the key problem with the speculation is that there is still distrust (over Chinas military development).
No matter how sincere China is, they would consider it a conspiracy, he said, adding that Western media has misrepresented Chinas growth during the time when many countries are advancing space technology.
Major General Peng Guangqian, a Beijing-based military strategist, said China is opposed to changing the outer space into a battlefield.
Xus pledge to expand the air forces capabilities was timed ahead of the 60th anniversary of the Chinese air force and was intended for a domestic audience, said Professor Wang Xiangsui of the Beijing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics.
Posted on 11 November 2009
November.10 (China Military News cited from chinadaily) Earlier this month, Air Force Commander Xu Qiliang of the Peoples Liberation Army said that competition between military forces is shifting to space in an interview with Xinhua.
Not so fast, said Foreign Ministry spokesman Ma Zhaoxu. At a regular news briefing yesterday, he said that the direction of Chinas space program is for only peaceful ventures.
I want to point out China has all along upheld the peaceful use of outer space. We oppose the weaponization of outer space or a space arms race, Ma said. China has never and will not participate in an outer space arms race in any form. The position of China on this point remains unchanged.
PLA Air Force Space Object Tracking Facilities
In the interview, Xu said we must build a space force that conforms with the needs of our nations development, the demands of space age development and good for regional stability and world peace.
His comments triggered speculation about the intention of the nations space program at a time when its development has skyrocketed.
Chinas first lunar probe, the Change-1 satellite, finished its mission in October 2008.
Last year, three Chinese astronauts completed the countrys first spacewalk during a 68-hour voyage. The Chinese air force is also celebrating its 60th anniversary next week.
The AFP said Xus remarks sparked speculation of a possible shift in Chinas military policy. The Straits Times, a newspaper in Singapore, quoted analysts as saying Xus comment signals a turning point in Chinas military posture.
Long Range Radar used by PLA Air Force
United States General Kevin Chilton, who heads the US Strategic Command, even said on Tuesday he wanted more information on Chinas position when asked about Xus remarks.
Beijings space program is an area that well want to explore and understand exactly what Chinas intentions are here, and why they might want to go in that direction and what grounds might accommodate a different direction, Reuters quoted him as saying.
But Xu said in the interview that the Peoples Liberation Army Air Force will never pose a military threat to any country.
He specified that the air forces only purpose was to guard Chinas security.
Zhai Dequan, deputy director of China Arms Control and Disarmament Association, said the key problem with the speculation is that there is still distrust (over Chinas military development).
No matter how sincere China is, they would consider it a conspiracy, he said, adding that Western media has misrepresented Chinas growth during the time when many countries are advancing space technology.
Major General Peng Guangqian, a Beijing-based military strategist, said China is opposed to changing the outer space into a battlefield.
Xus pledge to expand the air forces capabilities was timed ahead of the 60th anniversary of the Chinese air force and was intended for a domestic audience, said Professor Wang Xiangsui of the Beijing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics.
