China seeks to dominate space, warns US general

Robert Besser
02 Dec 2022, 20:59 GMT+10

Lt. General Nina Armagno of the U.S. Space Force has said that rapid advancements in China's military capabilities pose increasing risks to American supremacy in outer space
Armagno, who is the head of the U.S. military's space wing, also said Beijing had made significant progress in developing military space technology
China has made significant advances in recent years in the space race, previously dominated by the U.S. and Russia, alarming Washington and other Western nations

SYDNEY, Australia: Lt. General Nina Armagno of the U.S. Space Force has said that rapid advancements in China's military capabilities pose increasing risks to American supremacy in outer space.

Armagno, who is the head of the U.S. military's space wing, also said Beijing had made significant progress in developing military space technology, including in satellite communications.

During an event in Sydney run by the Australian Strategic Policy Institute, Armagno said, "I think it is entirely possible they could catch up and surpass us, absolutely. The progress they have made has been stunning, stunningly fast," as quoted by Reuters.

China has made significant advances in recent years in the space race, previously dominated by the U.S. and Russia, alarming Washington and other Western nations.

Ye Peijian, head of the Chinese Lunar Exploration Program, said the moon and Mars are like the contested islands in the South China Sea, which Beijing is attempting to claim.

China is also developing experimental technology for mining asteroids and minor planets for natural resources.

"China is the only country with both the intent to reshape the international order and increasingly, the economic, diplomatic, military and technological power to achieve that objective," Armagno said.

The fourth branch of the U.S. military, the Space Force was founded in 2019, partly to counter the rising capabilities of China, and is set to launch three astronauts to its new space station this week.

Armagno is the U.S. agency's first permanent commander.

Watch latest videos

News RELEASES

Publish news of your business, community or sports group, personnel appointments, major event and more by submitting a news release to Sydney Sun.

More Information

16 ℃

Fair in Sydney

Business

Section

US Federal Reserve cutting 300 people from payroll

WASHINGTON D.C.: In a small but rare reduction to its headcount, which has grown steadily since 2010, the US Federal ...

Rite Aid may close over 400 stores, allow creditors to run operations

CAMP HILL, Pennsylvania: This week, the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reported that Rite Aid could shut down some 400 to ...

US Transportation Secretary says New York's ATC needs more staff

WASHINGTON D.C.: U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg has criticized the air traffic control staffing shortages in New York as "unacceptable" ...