15 September : China has urged the United States to stop expanding its military capabilities and preparing for war in space after Washington confirmed that it had deployed weapons into orbit for the first time.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun made the call on Tuesday, warning against the emergence of an arms race in outer space.
At a press briefing, Guo said, “The United States should stop strengthening its military capabilities and making preparations for war in space.”
The remarks came a day after US Secretary of the Air Force Troy Meink disclosed the deployment of weapons in space at an event organised by the Air & Space Forces Association in National Harbor, Maryland.
“It is extremely important that we maintain our dominance not only in the air, but also in space,” Meink said.
However, during a question-and-answer session, Meink did not provide details about the type or capabilities of the weapons. He only said that his choice of words had been “very deliberate.”
A US official told The Washington Post that the technology referred to by Meink could include capabilities that would allow the United States to destroy an adversary’s satellites.
There is currently no direct international ban on deploying weapons in space. However, the Outer Space Treaty prohibits the placement of weapons of mass destruction in orbit or their stationing in outer space.
US President Donald Trump established the Space Force in 2019 during his first term in office. At the time, he described space as the world’s newest domain of warfare.
Last year, Trump unveiled a plan known as the “Golden Dome,” a proposed multilayered missile defence system designed to protect the entire US territory. The proposed system also includes capabilities to intercept missiles from space.
The latest developments have raised concerns over the possibility of a new arms race in outer space as major powers expand their military capabilities beyond Earth.