China Slams US Over Space Weapons, Warns Against ‘Space War’
What Happened
China has criticized the United States after the US Space Force confirmed it has deployed "on-orbit space control weapons" capable of defending against hostile threats. In response, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun urged Washington to stop "preparing for war in outer space" and warned against the weaponisation of space. The comments came after Troy Meink, the US Air Force Secretary, publicly acknowledged the deployment of US weapons in orbit for the first time. China said it supports the peaceful use of space and opposes turning it into a battlefield.
Key Takeaways
The exchange marks a new escalation in the global competition for space dominance. With the US, China and Russia increasingly investing in military space capabilities, concerns are growing about a potential space arms race that could threaten critical satellites used for communications, navigation and surveillance.