US Accused by China of Militarizing Space in Response to Navy Aircraft’s Transit of Taiwan Strait

China has leveled an accusation at the United States for the militarization of space. This comes on the heels of China’s protest over a U.S. Navy P-8A Poseidon anti-submarine aircraft’s journey through the Taiwan Strait, during a period of halted military contacts.

On Friday, Col. Tan Kefei, spokesperson for the Chinese Defense Ministry, suggested that the formation of the U.S. Space Force in 2019, among other activities, has significantly compromised space security and global strategic equilibrium. “The U.S. has been ramping up the militarization of space in recent years,” Tan remarked, asserting that China remains committed to the peaceful utilization of space and staunchly opposes its weaponization, transformation into a battleground, or any form of space-based arms race.

Tan’s comments were presented as a response to the concerns voiced by U.S. Space Force leaders regarding China’s growing capabilities in space, which he dismissed as “classic cognitive dissonance”. Among China’s achievements in space are its own space station in orbit and plans for manned moon missions. However, in 2007, it was met with global disapproval when it used a missile to demolish one of its own obsolete weather satellites, leading to a debris field that still poses a threat to other orbiting objects.

Despite the presence of high-ranking U.S. officials in Beijing, such as Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, diplomatic relations remain strained. China has steadfastly denied any attempt to reinitiate contact between the two countries’ militaries, possibly in retaliation for U.S. arms sales to Taiwan and sanctions on Chinese Defense Minister Li Shangfu.

China persistently asserts authority over the Taiwan Strait, which, although recognized as international waters and airspace and crucial to global trade, separates the mainland from the independent democratic island of Taiwan.

The United States ally, Taiwan, is viewed by China as part of its own territory, with intentions to reclaim it by force if necessary. China frequently employs its aircraft and naval vessels to disturb Taiwan’s military and try to unsettle its population of 23 million.

On Thursday, the Eastern Theater Command of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army, responsible for the area facing Taiwan, announced it had dispatched jets to “continually track and manage the U.S. plane according to legal protocols.”

Theater spokesperson Col. Shi Yi stated on social media that “theater troops are perpetually vigilant and will staunchly defend national sovereignty, security, regional peace, and stability.”

The U.S. 7th Fleet confirmed the Navy P-8A Poseidon’s transit of the Taiwan Strait in international airspace on Thursday.

In a statement on its website, the Fleet asserted, “By operating within the Taiwan Strait in accordance with international law, the United States endorses the navigational rights and freedoms of all nations.”

“The United States military’s movement through the Taiwan Strait reinforces its commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific. The United States military flies, sails and operates wherever international law permits.”

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Space Militarization

More about Space Militarization

• China’s Position on Space Security
• United States Space Force
• US Navy P-8A Poseidon Anti-Submarine Aircraft
• Taiwan Strait International Waters
• China and Taiwan Relations