 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
 |
 |
China's Space Policy Related Statements and Developments
|
|
|
1982 |
|
|
|
1986 |
|
|
1988 |
|
|
1991 |
|
1993 |
1994 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
| 2004 |
This chronology includes statements and developments on issues related to China's space policy including the Outer Space Treaty (OST), Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (COPUOUS), China's space program and Chinese positions on the peaceful use of outer space and China's outer space/space weapons.
05/18/2004: Wang Yonzhi, the chief designer of the Chinese space program, revealed that Chinese objectives for space no longer include sending a manned mission to the moon. According to Wang, China plans to launch and construct a permanent manned space station within 15 years, but with 18 billion yuan (US $2.18 billion) expenditure over the last 11 years on space programs, the manned mission to the moon has been scrapped. Lunar probe missions continue to be planned, with a lunar satellite launch in 2006, a lunar probe landing by 2010, and a lunar mission to collect moon dust by 2020. ["China to launch permanently manned space station within 15 years," Space Daily, 18 May 2004, http://www.spacedaily.com.]
05/11/2004: In a speech at a symposium in Zhejiang province, Shen Faren, the chief designer of the Shenzhou vehicles, reported that China's second manned space mission reportedly will be conducted in the fall of 2005. Shenzhou VI (SZ-6) will be launched piloted by two astronauts, according to Shen. Shen also believes that the two astronauts will conduct experiments in the orbital module, unlike Yang Liwei who stayed in the return module for the duration of his flight. Chinese space officials have not yet officially confirmed the launch date or the numbers of astronauts who will be aboard.["China's Shenzhou VI to be launched in Fall 2005: Report," Space Daily, 11 May 2004, http://www.spacedaily.com.]
04/26/2004: Approximately 100 space experts from the United States, Russia, China, France, Germany, Japan and India attended a conference in Beijing on the enactment and improvement of laws on human space activity. Wang Liheng, president of the China Institute of Space Law, brought up the need to enact new laws that would ensure the exploration and use of space, and protection of environment of space. Wang further elaborated, citing space debris from the disintegration of launch vehicles, the use of nuclear powered devices in deep space exploration, and irrecoverable satellites and materials from earth as important issues in protecting the space environment. In addition to presentations from American and European officials on the GPS and Galileo satellite navigation systems, a group of Chinese experts also made a presentation on Chinese satellite navigation systems. ["Beijing Hosts Two-Day International Space Law Conference," Xinhua, 26 April 2004 in FBIS CPP20040426000241.]
02/10/2004: According to an AFP report, Chinese astronauts will soon begin training at Moscow's Star City Centre in preparation for a second manned flight in the second half of next year. Huang Chunping, a spokesman for the Chinese space program, said that the second flight would probably carry more than one person and last more than 24 hours. ["Chinese Cosmonauts to Train in Russia," Space Daily, 10 February 2004, http://www.spacedaily.com/.]
01/30/2004: China plans to launch a new generation of solid fuel rockets to complement its Long March liquid-fueled series of large scale rockets. The Explorer I series has been designed to carry small or microsatellites into orbit, with a payload under 100 kilograms. According to Yang Shucheng, chief commander of the Explorer I project, this solid fuel rocket will enable the Chinese to launch satellites to help view disaster areas as soon as possible. Solid-fuel rockets are attractive for commercialization due to their relative safety, low cost and high thrust. ["China to Launch New Solid-Fuel Rocket for Satellites," Beijing Renmin Ribao, 30 January 2004 in FBIS CPP20040130000042.]
01/19/2004: The announcement of China's ambitious space program for 2004, just prior to President Bush's announcement of a major American initiative to establish a lunar base by 2020 and send astronauts to Mars, sparked conflicting assessments of China's motivations for exploring space. Some analysts such as Kevin Pollpeter from RAND, interpreted China's proposed plans as a reflection of Chinese determination to become a major space-faring power, and exhibiting the success of its improved engineering technology and standards. However, James Lewis, a space policy analyst from the Center for Strategic and International Studies, questioned the timing of China's announcement as a game of one-upmanship between the U.S. and China, possibly marking the emergence of a new space race. ["China to Embark on Ambitious Space Programs in 2004," South China Morning Post, 19 January 2004 in FBISCPP20040119000063.]
01/14/2004: China planned to launch 10 satellites in 2004, while preparing for its second-manned flight and starting development of its three-part lunar exploration missions. Zhang Qingwei, general manager of China Space Science and Technology Corp and vice-chief-commander of the Chinese manned space program, stated that the 10 satellites will be launched aboard 9 rockets from Jiuquan, Xichang, and Taiyuan space launch centers, including Probe No. 2 of the Sino-European "Double Star" project and a meteorological satellite. The three part lunar probing missions would include launching a lunar satellite by 2007, landing an unmanned vehicle on the moon by 2010, and collecting lunar soil samples by 2020. ["China Plans to Launch 10 Satellites, Prepare for 2nd Manned Space Flight in 2004," Beijing Xinhua, 14 January 2004 in FBIS CPP20040114000154.]
01/05/2004: According to Sun Weigang, director of the Space Department of the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corp., Chinese scientists have no concrete plans for a mission to Mars. However, additional research and studies will be conducted, including feasibility studies for a Mars mission. Liu Zhenxing, a researcher at the Centre for Space Science and Applied Research of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, stated that while China may have the carrier rocket for a possible Mars mission, the toughest challenges will be to develop the monitoring and control systems for the probe. However, any expertise and experience generated from the lunar missions will help in the development of a Mars mission. ["PRC Officials Closely Watch Mars Mission," Beijing China Daily, 05 January 2004 in FBIS CPP20040105000017.]
01/05/2004: As Chinese space programs become enlarged in scope, space officials such as Jiang Yixian, have cited the need to speed up development of the new series of Long March rockets. The launch capacities for Long March rockets stands at 5.1 tons for geo-stationary transfer orbits and 9.5 tons for near-earth orbits. Comparable Western and Russian rocket systems have launch capacities of 20 tons for near-earth orbits and 10 tons for geo-stationary orbits. Jiang Yixian, a division vice-director with the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corp (CASC) hopes that by 2008, China will have developed a much more powerful carrier rocket with non-toxic, non-polluting, high performance and low cost properties for exploration and commercialization purposes. Commercial satellites are expected to become larger and heavier, and a new rocket will allow for successful launches of these larger satellites as well as launching multiple satellites to form a cluster or constellation. The new launchers have been designed to utilize three modular stages of 2.25m, 3.35m and 5m in diameter. The new Long March series will possess carrying capacities of 25 tons for near-earth orbits and up to 14 tons for geostationary orbits. In addition, the launch cost is expected to be up to 30% lower than for current Long March series, with a turnaround time reduced from 2 months to 15 days. ["Official hopes New Generation of 'Long March' Carrier Rockets Ready by 2004," Beijing China Daily, 05 January 2004 in FBIS CPP20040106000026.]
12/29/2003: The first Sino-European satellite was launched into orbit by a Long March 2C/SM rocket from Xichang Satellite Launch Center in Sichuan province. The high altitude Probe No. 1 satellite is the first of two satellites in the Sino-European "Double Star" project and is also the highest satellite that China has ever launched, with an operating altitude twice that of geosynchronous orbit. The satellite was equipped with instruments for measuring and observing the Earth's magnetic field, ionosphere and the upper stratums of the atmosphere, with an expected operating life of 18 months. It is particularly equipped to study the effects of the sun on the Earth's magnetotail, where storms of high-energy particles are generated. Probe No. 1 was launched into an equatorial orbit and will be followed by a polar orbit Probe No. 2 in 2004. ["China Launches Satellite in Joint Space Probe Program with European Space Agency," Beijing Xinhua, 29 December 2003 in FBIS CPP20031229000209; "Sino-EU Cooperation Takes Major Step Forward With 'Double Star' Launch," Beijing China Daily, 30 December 2003 in FBIS CPP200312300000192.]
12/15/2003: A report from Hong Kong's Kuang Chiao Ching provided a detailed look at China's third generation retrievable reconnaissance satellite model FSW-2. FSW-2 is part of the Jianbing series of reconnaissance satellites. The satellite is equipped with a high resolution, large field of vision, direct scanning-type panoramic camera, with a resolution of about 1.5-3 meters, comparable to the American KH-11 series. The satellite is designed for an 18-day mission profile, with several kilometers of film and a retrieval module weighing 700 kilograms. ["Features of China's New Recoverable Reconnaissance Satellite," Hong Kong Kuang Chiao Ching, 15 December 2003 in FBIS CPP20031223000126.]
12/09/2003: According to Ouyang Ziyuan, chief scientist of the Chinese lunar exploration project, the Chang'e-I moon exploration probe is well along on its development process. Ouyang said, "We are following the prescribed order of developing the necessary systems for lunar exploration, such as those for orbiter control and monitoring, data processing as well as the carrier rocket and explorer satellite." The orbiter is named after an ancient Chinese legend about the fairy Chang'e that flies to the moon. Given the distance of the moon from the earth, Ye Peijian, chief designer of the spacecraft, estimated that it will require multiple speed adjustments to the orbiter after the probe lifts off, taking up to nine days for the probe to arrive in orbit around the moon. In addition to obtaining three-dimensional images of the moon's surface, mission projections called for the probe to analyze the content and distribution of useful elements on the moon's surface, according to Luan Enjie, director of the China National Space Administration (CNSA). The Chang'e-I probe will be launched by a Long March 3 rocket from Xichang. Plans are also currently being developed to successfully land a spacecraft on the moon by 2010. ["PRC Unmanned Probe to Blast Off Within Three Years," Beijing China Daily, 09 December 2003 in FBIS CPP20031209000011; "CCTV Says China Planning Moon Probe for 2007, Lunar Landing 2010," CCTV-1, 28 November 2003 in FBIS CPP20031128000153.]
12/02/2003: According to Yuan Jiajun, head of the Chinese Institute of Space Technology, China expects to launch a next-generation communications satellite in the first half of 2005. The satellite being developed had technical parameters such as 10,000 kilowatts of output power, a 5,100 kilogram takeoff weight and a 15 year service life. The satellite, named Sinosat-2, is based on the Dongfanghong-4 series common platform intended for large-scale, geostationary orbit communications satellites. Yuan said that the common platform possesses the same functions and capabilities as the advanced common platforms of other nations. ["China Developing New-Generation Communications Satellite," Space Daily, 02 December 2003, http://www.spacedaily.com/news/china-03zze.html.]
11/26/2003: Due to Kiribati's establishment of diplomatic relations with Taiwan, China dismantled its satellite tracking center based on the island capital of Tarawa. The tracking station was used in support of China's space program. There was also speculation that it was intended to monitor the nearby U.S. missile range based at Kwajalein atoll in the Marshall Islands. ["China Scraps Kiribati Satellite Tracking Station," Space.com, 26 November 2003, http://www.space.com/news/china_station_031126.html.]
11/16/2003: According to Zhang Qingwei, president of China Aerospace Science and Technology Corp, China will launch a communications satellite and a geospace exploration satellite by December. He also confirmed that China will not make manned spaceflights in 2004, with the next flight of the Shenzhou spacecraft coming in 2005. In addition, he cited advances in the testing system, allowing engineers to test the mated rocket and payload on the pad without the need for ground checks. This has reduced the time between launch intervals to approximately 20 days. China plans on launching 30 satellites into space by the end of 2005, with an annual average of 10 satellites expected for the 2006-2010 timeframe. Zhang stated, "To serve national economic growth, defense and scientific research purposes, the country will send up to nine satellites into space next year alone." ["China expected to launch 11 satellites in next 14 months," People's Daily, 16 November 2003, http://english.peopledaily.com.cn.]
11/03/2003: China launched its 18th recoverable satellite into space atop a Long March-2D (LM-2D) booster from Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center. The satellite is intended for scientific research, land surveying, mapping and other experiments. The launch represented the 73rd launch of the Long March series of booster rockets and extends China's consecutive streak of successful launches to 31 since October 1996. Space experts cited the number of launches in a short period, including the Oct. 15 manned Shenzhou-5 mission and the Oct. 21 CBERS-2 launch as evidence of China's progress in launch capabilities and its development of boosters and spacecraft. ["China Launches 18th 'Recoverable Science Experimental Satellite'," Xinhua, 03 November 2003 in FBIS CPP20031103000089.]
11/02/2003: According to Zhang Qingwei, president of China Aerospace Science and Technology Corp, comprehensive feasibility studies for the initial phases of Chinese moon probing missions have been completed. The first probing mission will likely occur in three to five years. The first phase focuses on obtaining three-dimensional images of the moon surface, analysis of the elemental composition of the moon surface and probing the space environment of the moon. The second phase involves sending moon probing devices to the moon's surface and the final phase is targeted on surveying the moon surface and returning to Earth with samples. The Long March-3A booster rocket is the currently planned platform for launching moon probing satellites. ["China to launch moon probing satellite in 3 to 5 years," People's Daily, 02 November 2003, http://english.people.com.cn]
11/01/2003: According to Jiang Mianheng, Vice President of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the launch of the Chuangxin-1 on 21 October 2003 represented the first of China's key projects into the research and development of mini-satellites. Chuangxin-1 project included the R&D into a miniature communication satellite, the development of the corresponding ground monitoring and control facilities, and the development of mobile communication terminals. The attractiveness of mini-satellites stems from their ability to use low-Earth orbits, reducing information transmission distances for communication applications. In addition, mini-satellites in low earth orbit could be used for synthetic aperture radar imaging and multi-spectral imaging, improving earth observation capabilities. An innovative of new research is also in the use of mini-satellites in a constellation/formation, forming a virtual satellites that can accomplish the tasks of larger satellites more effectively. ["Jiang Mianheng on Chuangxin-1 Minisatellite," Beijing Zhongguo Kexueyuan Yuankan, 01 November 2003 in FBIS CPP20040204000194.]
10/27/2003: The European Union approved a cooperation agreement on the Galileo Global Navigation Satellite System between the 15-nation bloc and China. "The partnership with China is a good news and paves the way for future other bilateral and regional agreements which are of mutual benefit", said Loyola de Palacio, EC-vice president of Transport and Energy. The agreement provided for cooperative activities on satellite navigation in sectors such as science and technology, industrial manufacturing, service and market development. China's financial contribution to the program was approximately 200 million euros. ["EU to cooperate with China on Galileo program," Xinghua, 27 October 2003 in FBIS CPP20031027000240.]
10/21/2003: The China-Brazil Earth Resource Satellite (CBERS-2) was launched from the Taiyuan Space Launch Center aboard a Long March-4B rocket. The satellite was equipped with three Earth observation cameras; two optical, one infrared. One camera was designed to capture images along an 890km stretch, with a resolution of 260 meters. The second camera's specifications produced images in a 113km stretch with a 20m resolution, while the infrared imager produced images 120km wide with 80m resolution. CBERS-2 has an expected service life of 2 years. The same launch also placed a small communication satellite from the China Academy of Sciences, known as Chuangxin-1, into orbit. The satellite has a mass of 100kg with a service life of 2 years. Its payload consisted of processing transponders and receiving/transmitting antennas, mainly used for data processing purposes. ["Brazil China to Launch CBERS-2 Satellite on 21 October," Sao Paulo Estado de Sao Paulo, 20 October 2003 in FBIS LAP20031020000042; "Brazilian, Chinese Presidents Exchange Congratulations Over Satellite Launch," Sao Paulo Folha de Sao Paulo, 22 October 2003 in FBIS LAP20031022000078; "Details on CBERS-2, Chuangxin-1 Satellite Capabilities," Zhongguo Hangtian Bao, 22 October 2003 in FBIS CPP20031023000226.]
10/20/2003: The cargo that was carried aloft by Col. Yang Liwei on his Shenzhou-5 spacecraft was revealed to include China's national flag, the flag of the Beijing 2008 Olympics, the United Nations flag, a renminbi note, memorial stamps for China's first manned spaceflight, memorial envelopes of the manned spaceflight project, and 500 grams of crop seeds from Taiwan. ["Secret Cargo on Shenzhou-V Revealed to Public," China Daily, 20 October 2003 in FBIS CPP20031020000007.]
10/17/2003: According to Lt. Col Mark Stokes, a senior Pentagon expert and China specialist, China's military has planned to use space weapons in any conflict involving Taiwan. "Space assets will play a major role in any future use of force against Taiwan and in preventing foreign intervention in a Taiwan scenario." He also stated that space assets "are important force multipliers that can help to even the playing field when you go up against a technologically superior adversary." In addition to space weapons, Stokes said that China has programs to develop space-based command and control, ballistic missiles with accuracies less than 50 meters, technical countermeasures to missile defense and new generations of solid fuel intercontinental ballistic missiles. ["China studies space war but urges ban on 'militarization' of space," World Tribune.com, 17 October 2003, http://www.worldtribune.com]
10/16/2003: According to Prof. Shen Dingli, deputy director of Fudan University's Center for American Studies, mastering manned spaceflight technology is a great technological and military significance. Shen stated that propulsion must be provided for spacecraft to safely return from orbit, and this propulsion technology can be adapted to provide missiles with maneuver capabilities to avoid interception by missile defense systems. In terms of civil application, the success of Shenzhou-5 established a foundation for further manned missions and the development of a Chinese space station. ["Shenzhou-V Shows China Capable of Breaking Mssile Defense System," Ta Kung Pao (Hong Kong), 14 October 2003 in FBIS CPP20031014000053.]
10/16/2003: Just hours after Lt. Col Yang Liwei landed the Shenzhou-5 spacecraft after 14 orbits, Xie Mingbao, director of the China Manned Space Engineering Office, called his flight just the first step. Xie revealed that China planned to launch the next Shenzhou spacecraft in the coming year or two. However, Zhou Xiaofei, director for manned space engineering of China Aerospace Science and Technology Group, stated that space walking and rendezvous-docking were not expected on the next Shenzhou mission. In addition, Xie confirmed that China's space program had cost approximately 18 billion yuan ($2.2 billion US) to date, and that no plans existed for a Chinese space shuttle currently. He also declared that "China is willing to learn from the United States and Russia in developing space technology and to cooperate with any other country that treats China as an equal partner for mutual benefit." ["PRC Space Official Says China to Launch Next Shenzhou in 1-2 Years," Xinhua, 16 October 2003 in FBIS CPP20031016000089.]
10/15/2003: At 0900 (Beijing time) China launched its first manned spaceship, with 38-year-old astronaut Yang Liwei, piloting the ship. The capsule was launched with a Long March 2F. The rocket measured 58 meters, with a takeoff payload weight of 480 tons. Hours before the flight, China’s President Hu Jintao and Central Ministry Commission chairman Jiang Zemin, met Yang Liwei, and later witnessed the launch. The launch was not broadcast live, but programming was interrupted to announce the successful liftoff. [“Chinese Astronaut Enters Orbit,” BBC News, 15 October 2003, http://news.bbc.co.uk; “Shenzhou V Blasts Off Into Space At 9:00am,” China Daily.com, 15 October 2003 http://www1.chinadaily.com.cn.]
10/14/2003: According to Hong Kong media, astronaut Yang Liwei was the leading candidate for selection to pilot Shenzhou-5. The other two candidates were Zhai Zhigang and Nie Haisheng. Prior to launch, Chinese space officials would conduct a final psychological test to determine which candidate will be selected. President Hu Jintao was expected to fly to Jiuquan Space Launch Center immediately after the end of a key Communist Party meeting on Tuesday night to attend the launch in person. ["Identity of Final Group of Three Yuhangyuans Revealed," Space Daily, 14 October 2003; "China Drums Up Nationalistic Sentiment as Manned Space Mission Nears," AFP, 13 October 2003 in FBIS CPP20031013000066.]
10/13/2003: According to Gu Yidong, director-general and chief engineer of the space application system under the manned spaceflight program, the ultimate goal for China was to explore outer space and made good use of the rich resources of space. "With the further development of space technologies, outer space application will turn out to be an important driving force for China's economic and social development." Gu pointed out the success of the United States in turning space research into industrial technology. China has sent plant seeds into orbit to breed new varieties that have higher yields and better quality, and Gu anticipates China using outer space as an industrial base due to the lack of gravity. ["Xinhua 'News Analysis' on China's Manned Spaceflight Program," Xinhua, 13 October 2003 in FBIS CPP20031013000145.]
10/10/2003: A report from a Shanghai newspaper described the Dongfeng Aerospace City, the assembly and launch site for China's manned space program located on the border between Inner Mongolia and Gansu Province. On site, the aerospace port consists of two stations for vertical general assembly, a testing factory, a launch tower, command and control center and a refueling station. The launch tower is equipped with numerous safety devices and controlled from approximately 1.5km away. The 97-meter tall testing factory is the tallest single story structure in Asia, standing 12 stories tall without any partitioning floorboards within. Here, the Long March 2-F booster and Shenzhou spacecraft are mated together, and then transported to the launch pad via a special outdoor rail line.
According to the Shanghai Wen Hui Bao, the Shenzhou-5 (SZ-5) spacecraft consists of a three module design, incorporating an orbital module, a re-entry/crew module, and a propulsion module. Both the orbital and propulsion modules are equipped with expansive solar panels. At the top of the spacecraft is an 8m tall escape tower with 10 rocket engines. If a problem were to occur from 900 seconds prior to lift off to 160 seconds after liftoff, the escape tower would be able to pull the orbital and re-entry modules far enough away from the booster to allow a safe landing. SZ-5 is also capable of manual operation of the steering and speed reduction parachutes, should automatic systems fail. The spacecraft is a joint collaboration between China Space Technology Research Institute, and the Shanghai Aerospace Technology Research Institute. In addition, the Long March 2-F booster, specially developed for the Shenzhou spacecraft, has been equipped with a trouble detection system that can either emit an aural warning to astronauts not yet in the module or fire the escape tower to boost the astronauts to safety. ["Shanghai Daily Describes Aerospace City on Eve of 'Shenzhou V' Launch -- Part 2," Wen Hui Bao (Shanghai), 10 October 2003 in FBIS CPP20031010000067.]
10/10/2003: According to Hong Kong's Wen Wei Po, the timetable for the Shenzhou-5 (SZ-5) launch was drawn up, calling for an 0900 (Beijing time; 0100 GMT) on 15 October. A daytime launch was determined to provide more suitable conditions for launch site workers and also more conducive to providing astronauts with full protection. In addition, a daytime recovery was chosen because it was technically more reasonable and easier to deal with emergencies during the day. Reports earlier claimed that the flight would last only 90 minutes, but CCTV was asked to reserve a time slot of well over 10 hours. In a separate report, China Daily stated that the SZ-5 module will orbit the earth 14 times, with a total flight time of approximately 21 hours. ["'Shenzhou V' to Launch at 0100 GMT on 15 Oct, Space Mission to Last 21 Hours", Wen Wei Po (Hong Kong), 9 October 2003 in FBIS CPP20031009000027; "China to launch manned spaceflight next week," China Daily, 10 October 2003.]
10/09/2003: At a Foreign Ministry press conference, spokeswoman Zhang Qiyue reiterated China's commitment to the peaceful uses of outer space.
"I would like to clearly express here that, like many other countries, China's effort to explore and develop outer space technology is entirely for the peaceful use of outer space. China has always stood for the idea of keeping outer space weapons-free. China has maintained that the prevention of an arms race in outer space is in the interests of the countries around the world. China is ready to carry out effective cooperation with other countries in the peaceful use of outer space. China has never and will never participate in any form of arms race in outer space"
"There is no contradiction between the enormous effort China has made in the exploration, development, and peaceful use of outer space and China's status as a developing country. All the developing countries want to develop continuously. They all want to develop their own scientific and technological level. Meanwhile, the improvement of China's technological capability in outer space is beneficial to China. It is also very important for the whole world and all mankind in the peaceful use of outer space."
These statements were made at a press conference that dealt with the upcoming launch of China's Shenzhou-5 manned spaceflight. ["China Developing Outer Space Technology for Peaceful Use," Xinhua, 9 October 2003 in FBIS CPP20031009000118.]
10/09/2003: According to Hong Kong's Wen Wei Po, the Shenzhou-5 (SZ-5) spacecraft's orbital module was only fitted with simple experimental equipment, to maximize the amount of room for the crew. Plans for Shenzhou-VI and beyond are more complex, with orbital modules envisioned as "space laboratories" that remain in orbit. The modules can be docked together to form a space station. Yuhangyuan (astronauts) will be able to make their way from module to module, and conduct experiments. ["Orbital Module to Stay in Space and Work for half-year," Wen Wei Po (Hong Kong), 9 October 2003 in FBIS CPP20031009000030.]
10/08/2003: Although the exact time was not confirmed, China Central Television (CCTV) was instructed to prepare to broadcast the Shenzhou-5 (SZ-5) launch on 15 October. According to Xie Guangxuan, from the China Academy of Sciences, the SZ-5 launch will last approximately 90 minutes. The spacecraft will be launched from Inner Mongolia, with Jiuquan Space Launch Center in Gansu Province coordinating. The area of greatest concern with the upcoming space flight has been the re-entry. According to Xie, "during the Shenzhou series of flights, there has been one difficulty and that has been the re-entry of the space capsule." Xie continued that the capsule will go through a "black barrier" approximately 80km from the earth's surface that will blanket the re-entry module and prevent ground stations from maintaining contact. ["China's Manned Space Flight to Last Just 90 Minutes on October 15," AFP, 8 October 2003.]
10/06/2003: Chinese defense officials confirmed that
after China succeeds in putting a man into space, it will develop lunar
missions. Plans are in place to launch a research satellite into lunar orbit
within the next three years, contingent upon the successful flight of Shenzhou-5
(SZ-5). In the same report, Chen Lan, a leading Chinese space expert, stated
that "the [SZ] launch cannot come before 14 October because Chinese leaders will
be attending an important meeting in Beijing." Chen believed that "some of them,
like Jiang Zemin, will want to be at the launch site to witness the
launch". ["China details space plans," BBC News, 06 October 2003; "Shenzhou V To
Carry Plant Seeds; "Jiang Zemin May Command Launch," Hong Kong Daily, 06 October
2003]
According to Hong Kong's Wen Wei Po, the top three yuhangyuan (astronauts) among
the 14 at Jiuquan Launch Center had been selected and ranked for selection as
China's first man in space. Reports indicate that the SZ-5 module will orbit the
Earth at least 10 times, with a total mission time of less than 24 hours. The
mission payload plans include one kilogram of plant seeds, but no experimental
space science equipment. ["Shenzhou V Astronauts Ranked In Order
of Chance to Fly," Wen Wei Po (Hong Kong), 06 October 2003.]
10/06/2003: The second China-Brazil Earth Resources Satellite (CBERS-2) has an anticipated launch date of 22 October, pending the successful release of the Shenzhou-5 spacecraft. CBERS-2 will be launched from Taiyuan Space Launch Center in Shanxi Province. Brazil's National Space Research Institute (INPE) confirmed that deals were finalized on the development and deployment of CBERS-3/4. China provided 70% of the funding for CBERS-1/2, but funding for the next two satellites will be split equally, with CBERS-4 being constructed in Brazil. China will continue its research and development efforts for the construction of a infrared camera with 5 meter resolution, to be mounted on CBERS-3/4. ["Brazil to Launch Satellite with China on 22 Oct," Sao Paulo Gazeta Mercantil, 6 October 2003.]
10/05/2003: According to reports from HK, the 14 yuhangyuan (astronauts) at Jiuquan Space Launch Center (JSLC) all went through actual training in the Shenzhou-5 (SZ-5) module to familiarize themselves with operational procedures. All 14 candidates have more than 10 years of flight experience and at least 1,000 hours of high altitude flight time. Average weight and height are approximately 170cm and 65 kilograms, with an average age of over 30. The past few years, all 14 yuhangyuan have received training at the "red house", an aerospace training center in Beijing. The identities of the yuhangyuan have been kept secret, but it has been revealed that the "red house" will be opened up to the public after the successful launch of a manned spaceship. ["China's Astronauts Practice Inside 'Shenzhou V'," Ta Kung Pao (Hong Kong), 5 October 2003.]
10/02/2003: According to reports from Hong Kong, Chinese space officials set the launch window for their first manned space mission, Shenzhou-5 (SZ-5) around 15 October 2003. This would allow the launching of the Shenzhou-5 vehicle immediately after the conclusion of the Third Plenum of the 16th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China. According to their reports, the SZ-5 mission will last approximately one day, similar in duration to the SZ-1 mission in 1999. There was some speculation that the launch could occur as early as 10 October, but the exact date will be determined by current weather forecasts as the launch window approaches. The crew for SZ-5 has not yet been selected, but officials will soon select three yuhangyuans from 14 currently at Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center (JSLC). From this final round of three, one or two will be selected to make China's first manned flight. ["Shenzhou-5 Single-Day Mission to Launch Near Oct. 15," Space Daily, 2 October 2003.]
According to a description from Space Daily, the Shenzhou vehicle is split into a forward orbital module with mission equipment and a service module/re-entry capsule. The orbital module can remain in orbit for approximately 8 months after the other modules return to earth. A combination of electronic intelligence (ELINT) and imaging reconnaissance packages were carried onboard Shenzhou-1 through 4. The various UHF direction finders and 1.6m resolution CCD cameras are believed to have given China operational experience flying ELINT and imaging reconnaissance missions over various targets and during various seasons of the year. Current inference for the Shenzhou-5 mission is that the orbital module may carry the imaging payload aloft with China's first yuhangyuans (astronauts). ["Shenzhou - Divine Military Vessel," Space Daily.com, 2 October 2003.]
09/29/2003: Fourteen Chinese yuhangyuan (astronauts), arrived at a base in Gansu Province, ahead of the manned space flight that is widely expected to occur within the next three months. Two instructors, Li Jinlong and Wu Jie were among the pool of 14, both having received training at Russia's Star City cosmonaut training facility before returning to China to train other yuhangyuan. The Shenzhou-5 module could theoretically carry 3 yuhangyuan into space, but analysts expect only one or two will be chosen. The 14 have previously undergone training at the facility, most recently during the Shenzhou-4 launch that occurred at the end of 2002. ["Chinese astronauts arrive at base ahead of manned space flight," Space Daily, 29 September 2003.]
09/19/2003: China inaugurated its "China-Europe Global Navigation Satellite System Technical and Cooperation Center" for the independent European satellite navigation system known as Galileo. Given the domination of the current GPS system by the American military, China's participation in the development of an alternative system will lessen its dependence on GPS. Additionally, China's huge market provides promising prospects for the program", according to Cao Chong, deputy chief engineer of the China Electronics Technology Group Corp. According to Cao, the economic returns from the development and deployment of an alternative navigation system could be high, and it would provide China with additional experience towards the creation of its own comprehensive satellite navigation. Chinese participation will not run counter to China's own work on its Beidou navigation system. EU-China cooperation will remain on a level equivalent to one EU member, with the majority of Chinese funds coming from Chinese enterprises involved in the project, as opposed to the government. ["China Joins EU Space Program to Break US GPS Monopoly", Space Daily, 27 September 2003.]
09/01/2003: In an article posted in Hong Kong's Cheng Ming magazine, it was reported that China has been quietly developing space weapons while publicly calling for a ban on the deployment of outer space weapons at the Conference for Disarmament at the UN. The primary goals of these weapons would be to restrict US advantages in communication, reconnaissance and surveillance through its space technology and render US space defense facilities ineffective. The most likely scenario for the use of space weapons by China would be a conflict in the Taiwan Straits, to disrupt US command and control, limit US satellite guided weapon systems and prevent effective US intervention. The article notes that despite the increased cooperation and improved relations between China and the US, it contends that Beijing still regards the US as a strategic adversary. ["Hong Kong Article on Beijing's Development of Space Weapons," Hong Kong Cheng Ming, 01 September 2003 in FBIS CPP20030910000052.]
08/11/2003: Chinese scientists at the Centre for Space Science and Applied Research developed an alarm system for collision avoidance that will be fitted to Shenzhou-5. The alarm system automatically changes the spacecraft's propulsion and speed to keep it away from the orbits of known space debris. There are currently 9131 trackable pieces of space debris, which the Centre has been keeping a close watch on. Fitted with this alarm system, it is hoped that the Shenzhou-5 manned mission will go smoothly when it eventually launches later this year. ["Alarm System to Help Shenzhou V Avoid Debris in Space," China Daily, 11 August 2003.]
07/16 – 07/26/2003: At the 25th Annual Congress of the International Astronomical Union in Sydney, Ye Shuhua of the Shanghai Astronomical Observatory gave a presentation on China's overall plans for lunar exploration. Although her comments were vague, she did provide a prospective timeline for China’s overall plans and the experiments to be conducted. In 2005 China hopes to launch its first robotic lunar exploration mission and by 2010 to make a lunar landing via robot probe. By 2020 China plans to launch a lunar vehicle that will return from the moon with lunar samples. Among the various instruments to be included aboard the spacecraft are CCD Cameras, Imaging Spectrometers and Gamma/X-Ray Spectrometers. Ye stated that “CCD cameras and laser altimeters are designed for lunar topography experiments and are arranged to provide stereo imaging of the same area. The gamma and X-ray spectrometers will be used for chemical analysis of the lunar surface by detecting certain elements and using interferometric imaging for two dimensional infrared images of rock types.” Ye’s presentation did not mention which government agency would be responsible for the mission nor did she discuss the spacecraft bus that will be used for the orbiter, or give a description of the total mass and the upper stages of the spacecraft. Current information is that the orbiter will be launched on a Long March 3A rocket. [“China’s First Lunar Step Outlined in Sydney IAU Presentation,” Space Daily, 21 June 2003.]
07/22/2003: China and Brazil are planning to launch CBERS-2 (China–Brazil Earth Resources Satellite) later this year to advance research of the Earth’s surface. It will be a three satellite series to form a remote-sensing system that is “both competitive and compatible with the world’s needs.” CBERS will allow Brazil to overcome its dependence on remote-sensing images from developed countries and will not only be used by China and Brazil but by other countries as well. Plans are currently being developed for deployment of CBERS-3 and CBERS-4. The first CBERS was launched in 1999. [“China to Launch Trio of Satellites with Brazil,” China Daily, 23 July 2003.]
07/03/2003: China confirmed that it will launch two satellites in December under the “Double Star Program,” enabling China to predict geospace storms that threaten the safety of spacecraft and to explore Earth’s magnetosphere. The two satellites consist of one ‘polar’ and one ‘equatorial’, flying in complementary orbits. “The 'polar’ satellite will concentrate on the physical processes taking place over the planet’s magnetic poles” while “the ‘equatorial’ satellite will investigate Earth’s huge magnetic tail, the region where particles are accelerated toward Earth’s magnetic poles.” Five experiments from the European Space Agency (ESA) will be included onboard, the first time European experiments have taken place on a Chinese spacecraft. The Double Star Program, combined with a Cluster satellite program ESA launched in 2000, will allow scientists to probe space close to the Earth from a six-dimensional perspective, and also better study the effects of the Sun on the planet’s environment,” as stated by Liu Zhenxing, chief scientist of the Double Star Program. The joint agreement was signed in Paris on 13 November 2001 between the Chinese National Space Administration (CNSA) and ESA. [“East and West Joint Hands for 'Double Star'," Gas Bulletin, 14 November 2001; “China to Launch Two Satellites to Improve Spacecraft Safety,” China Daily, 04 July 2003.]
06/03/2003: Chief engineer of the Launch Testing Station of the China Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, Wang Jinan, stated four major technological achievements contributing to China’s space program:
1) The overall testing system for power resistance and electrostatic discharge on human bodies, which is more advanced that the infrared testing systems applied by foreign countries, can be used to rapidly and accurately test and discharge the static electricity on human bodies;
2) The waste gas disposal system can be used to break down launching vehicles' waste gas into water and carbon dioxide, effectively eliminating the environmental pollution caused by spaceflights;
3) The system for automatically interpreting and classifying launching vehicles' remote sensing data can be used to automatically judge within 10 minutes whether rockets are running normally or not;
4) The uninterrupted power supply system can be used to automatically replace other power sources when any emergency takes place.
Wang concluded that these four achievements will play key roles in launching Shenzhou-V later this year. ["China Makes Four Major Scientific Research Achievements, Which Contribute to Testing Unmanned Spaceflights,” Beijing Zhongguo Xinwen She, 10 June 2003 in FBIS CPP20030614000033.]
05/25/2003: The third satellite in the Beidou series was launched successfully into space on a Long March 3-A carrier. The third Beidou-1 is the backup satellite that completed China's navigation and positioning system. This system will be used to serve shipping, transportation, distribution of materials, provide weather conditions. Some analysts also believe that the system will help with “precision satellite guidance for Chinese armies on high-tech weaponry and provide accurate battlefield condition information for battlefield soldiers at war." The complete Beidou navigation system is strictly regional and will be in operation for eight years. It is different from the American GPS and Russian GLONASS in that it is not global and operates on a two dimensional navigation system, instead of three dimensional. This means that signals are computed at a ground center station via the satellites and then retransmitted via the satellites to the customer. The Beidou Series lags "behind [GPS] in terms of the functions of user capacity, navigation and positioning dimension, positioning accuracy and concealment." According to one Taiwanese analyst, Yuan Le-i, with Beidou, China now has the military capability to provide accurate positioning of artillery, the ability to recover unmanned aircrafts, undertake search and rescue operations and conduct high-speed surveying and mapping. According to the same analysts, although Beidou is a regional satellite, it is capable of a wide coverage area including Huang Hai, Dong Hai and Japan, areas which the U.S. would use if there was a military conflict between China and Taiwan. [“Third Beidou Satellite to Enhance Satellite Navigation System,” Beijing Huanqiu Shibao, 26 May 2003 in FBIS CPP20030602000273; "China to Improve Combat Ability with 'Beidou' Navigation Satellites," Taipei Chung-Kou Shih-Pao, 20 June 2003 in FBIS CPP20030620000048.]
04/19/2003:
The Shanghai Aerospace Administration announced the start of a project to
send a satellite into lunar orbit in approximately three years. The
satellite will take 157 hours to finish its mission which includes circling the
earth in three different orbits recording three-dimensional images of the moon.
A specialist at the Shanghai Aerospace Administration stated, "the flying route
will help the probing satellite correct directional angles, accurately enter the
lunar orbit, and resolve the question that the 380,000 kilometer long voyage
cannot be accomplished by the propulsion of a single-stage rocket." The
probing satellite will also return with lunar samples.
["Jiefangjun Bao Examines China’s Moon Probing Project," Shanghai Jiefang
Ribao, 19 April 2003 in FBIS CPP20030614000033.]
03/04/2003:
Gong Huixing, an academic of the Chinese Academy of Engineering and
specialist in satellite remote sensing technology stated that China is beginning
to develop “five series of remote sensing satellites, such as the Fengyun-III
polar orbit meteorological satellite, the Fengyun-IV geostationary
meteorological satellite, ocean satellites, resource satellites, and environment
and disaster observation satellites.” However, communication and coordination
between the different relevant departments is failing. According to Gong, the
project should be a joint effort between the diverse technological research
forces in order to increase satellite remote sensing technological capabilities.
[“PRC 'Expert' Comments on China's Satellite Remote Sensing
Technology," Shanghai Jeifang Ribao, 4 March 2003 in FBIS
CPP20030614000033.]
02/02/2003:
Chinese President Jiang Zemin sent condolences on behalf of the Chinese
government to the United States on the loss of the seven-member crew on board
the space shuttle Columbia. Despite the tragedy, Jiang said he believed
that “mankind would forge ahead in space exploration.” This seemed to
indicate China's intention not to postpone its own manned space mission set for
the Fall of 2003. [“They are real heroes – China salutes Columbia
astronauts,” Xinhua, 2 February 2003.]
12/30/2002 - 01/05/2003: The Shenzhou IV unmanned spacecraft completed a
week long mission in the early part of January 2003. This flight was
expected to be the last before China's first manned flight, expected to occur
before the end of 2003. The spacecraft was launched on 30 December from
the Jiuquan Launch Facility in China's Gansu Province. It return to earth
on 5 January, landing in China's northern province of Inner Mongolia. According
to a Xinhua report "The successful launch and return of Shenzhou IV shows
China's technology for manned flights is becoming increasingly mature, which
lays a solid foundation for eventually sending up manned flights."
["China Launches New Space Mission," BBC News, 30 December
2002; "China Begins Countdown To Manned Mission After Return Of Craft,"
SpaceDaily.com,
6 January 2003]
2002
10/12/2002: China Aerospace Science and Technology Industrial Group announced that it had successfully developed the “Pioneer” series of solid fuel carrier rockets. “Pioneer I” and “Pioneer II” are a new generation of solid fuel carrier rockets designed to launch small satellites or payloads below 300 to 400kg and are a supplement to the large liquid fuel carrier rockets. The “Pioneer” series are different from the Changzheng (Long March) rockets in that they can be transported by vehicle and aircraft, launched in motion, and are easy to use and operate. The Group also claimed that the new series can deliver payloads quickly with a launching cost below that of liquid fueled rockets. [Lu Xiaoge and Sun Zifa, “China Successfully Develops the 'Pioneer' Series of Solid Fuel Carrier Rockets,” Beijing Zhongguo Xinwen She, 12 October 2002.]
08/22/2002: According to an AFP report, Chinese officials involved with the manned space program stated that the launch date for the Shenzhou IV would be before 10 January 2003. That coincided with an early report from the the China Daily that put the launch date before the end of 2002. The Shenzhou IV is expected to be the last unmanned capsule to be tested. Although still not scheduled, it is expected that the next capsule, the Shenzhou V, will be launched sometime in 2003, and will be China's first manned mission. ["China's last test before manned space mission 'due by January'," Agence France Presse, 22 August 2002; also see Cheng Ho, "Shenzhou-5 May Carry Out First Chinese Manned Mission," Space Daily.com, 9 April 2002.]
08/21/2002: The General Director of the Russian Aviation and Space Agency (Rosaviakosmos), Yuri Koptev is quoted in an interview with a Russian news agency stating that:
"Russia will be prepared to share [with China] individual technologies and their components and to conduct joint research without any restrictions on themes on the basis of equality and mutual interest."
This statement was made in conjunction with a meeting of the Russian-Chinese commission on space cooperation. Koptev went on to stress that: "All [contracts] have purely civilian uses." [Vladimir Pavlov and Vera Pavlova, "Russia Prepared to Cooperate with China in Space Research," Itar-Tass, 21 August 2002, on FBIS CEP20020821000042.]
08/19/2002: An article in the People's Daily (Renmin Ribao) reporting on U.S. development of space weapons, criticizes the Bush administrations for taking actions that could precipitate an arms race in outer space:
"... the defense thinking of the senior military and political leaders in the US is coming under increasingly intense criticism. Some discerning individuals point out that the Bush administration's approach of recklessly developing offensive space-based weapons will create an extremely bad precedent worldwide, and will inevitably provoke other countries to imitate them, thus triggering a space arms race of unprecedented proportions and ultimately seriously damaging the security interests of the US." [Wang Jian, "US Pursuing Vigorous Development of Space Weapons - Extending its Reach to Space With an Eye on the Future," Renmin Ribao (Guangzhou South China News Supplement), 19 August 2002, on FBIS CPP20020819000059.]
07/23/2002: According to a report published by FBIS, the June 2002 edition of China Aerospace (Zhongguo Hangtian) carried an article calling for Chinese development of anti-satellite weapons as a means to combat "enemy space systems" during wartime. The article's authors, which included Prof. Qin Zizeng of China's National University of Defense Technology, stated that:
"[China] should use aerospace equipment as a focal point for developing defense technology and weapons... and promote the research of offensive and defensive countermeasures in aerospace weapons, because future local wars that erupt near information support structures and even attack and defense countermeasures by aerospace vehicles.
The authors went on to stress the importance for China to focus its attention towards researching "key technologies in anti-satellite weapons that attack ground and space bases .... and as quickly as possible develop one or two anti-satellite weapons that are useful as a deterrent against enemy space systems." ["Scientists Call for 'Anti-Satellite Weapon' R&D," 23 July 2002, in FBIS CPP20020806000207.]
07/12/2002: In an annual report to Congress, the Office of the Secretary of Defense gave an assessment of China's improving space weapons capabilities in the following areas:
Electronic Warfare: "China's electronic warfare efforts are focused on technology and design development, accomplished mainly through cooperation with Western companies and by reverse engineering. China’s newer designs show significant improvements over older systems....China is procuring state-of-the-art technology to improve its intercept, direction finding, and jamming capabilities. It also may be developing jammers, which could be used against Global Positioning System (GPS) receivers."
Laser Weapons: "... In 1999 the Chinese displayed a probable laser-based, anti-tank guided missile (ATGM) countermeasure on its Type 90-II tanks."
Space Warfare: "Beijing may have acquired high-energy laser equipment that could be used in the development of ground-based anti-satellite (ASAT) weapons."
05/29/2002: Delegations from both China and the Russian Federation presented a working paper entitled Joint Working Paper by the Delegations of China and the Russian Federation: Possible Elements for a Future International Legal Agreement on the Prevention of the Deployment of Weapons in Outer Space, the Threat or Use of Force Against Outer Space Objects. "The paper lays out the general framework and concrete contents of the future legal instrument on outer space. The core of the new legal instrument is no deployment of weapons in outer space and no threat or use of force against outer space objects. China stands for the early re-establishment of an Ad Hoc Committee on PAROS at the CD, so as to start substantive work on the negotiations of such a legal instrument. This move taken by China and the Russian Federation is solely for the purpose of maintaining peace and stability in outer space through multilateral and constructive cooperation." [Press Release By the Delegation of China to the Conference on Disarmament, 29 May 2002, Available from http://www.china-un.ch/eng/30623.html; Internet; accessed on 7 June 2002.][Full Text]
05/20/2002: According to a China Daily article Chinese scientists announced that "China is dedicated to realize manned space flights by 2005 and launch its first space exportation of the moon in 2010." The statement was made during an exhibition on space technology sponsored by the Ministry of Science and Technology, the Central Committee of the CCP and the China Science and Technology Association. The report went on to say that China would carry out a manned mission around 2005 "if the Shenzhou IV spacecraft makes a successful test flight." [Sun Qi, "Scientists Are Over the Moon," China Daily, 20 May 2002, in FBIS CPP2002052000015.]
04/02/2002: According to Chinese reports, the Yuanwang fleet of space survey and control ships was an additional factor in the successful completion of the Shenzhou-3 (SZ-3) orbiter's mission. The four ships, deployed in the Atlantic, the Indian and the Pacific Ocean, monitored SZ-3's mission data and provided up to date tracking information. In order to account for China's lack of space monitoring facilities in the southern hemisphere, the Yuanwang fleet was developed to provide mobile facilities. The SZ-3 mission was the 41st expedition of the Yuanwang fleet for maritime tracking and observation purposes. ["Fleet Carries Out Tracking and Observation of 'Shenzhou-3' Spaceship," Jiefangjun Bao, 27 March 2002; "PRC Space-Monitoring Vessels in Southern Hemisphere Tracking Unmanned Spaceship," Beijing Xinhua, 1 April 2002; "The Inside Story of the Four 'Yuanwang' Survey Ships Monitoring 'Shenzhou III' for Seven Days and Nights," Renmin Wang (Beijing), 2 April 2002.]
04/01/2002: The returning module of China's Shenzhou-3 space vehicle touched down in the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region after orbiting the earth 108 times. The spaceship carried a set of metabolic simulation apparatus, human physical monitoring sensors and dummy astronauts. According to President Jiang Zemin, "the successful launches of three Shenzhou spaceships takes the country to new heights of space science and technology". ["China spacecraft returns to Earth", CNN, 1 April 2002.]
03/26/2002: China launched its Shenzhou-3 space vehicle as President Jiang Zemin watched. The SZ-3 was carried aloft by a Long March 2-F variant of the Long March 2 commercial booster. The booster lifted off from Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center at approximately 10:30pm and achieved orbit approximately 10 minutes later. ["Beijing Launches its Third Spacecraft," New York Times, 26 March 2002.]
03/14/2002: Senior officials from the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC) announced plans to develop an entirely new family of space launch vehicles (SLV). According to Zhang Qingwei, president of CASC, this new booster family will be able to lift a future 20-ton permanently manned space station into orbit. With a focus on space exploration and capturing a larger portion of the world satellite launch market, Zhang cited qualities such as non-toxicity, non-pollution, high performance and low-cost as the primary attributes of any future booster system. Current Chinese booster technology has approximately 50-75% of the lift capabilities of comparable Western boosters.
To bridge this gap, Chinese efforts will be focused on a modular design using liquid hydrogen, liquid oxygen and refined kerosene to improve performance and reduce environmental pollution from launches. This modular design will consist of three core stages 2.25, 3.35 and 5 meters in diameter each. They can be stacked correspondingly depending on the mass and desired orbit of the payload. Another possibility being considered is the use of this new booster system to lift telescopes into orbit or to send a manned mission to the Moon or Mars. ["Aerospace Official Says China Developing New Family of 'Powerful' Launch Vehicles," China Daily, 14 March 2002.]
06/07/2001: Hu Xiaodi, China's Ambassador for Disarmament Affairs, put forward a working paper titled, Possible Elements of the Future International Legal Instrument on the Prevention of the Weaponization of Outer Space to the Conference on Disarmament that outlined an international legally binding instrument on the prevention of the weaponization of, and an arms race in outer space. Hu outlined the proposed treaty:
"Its basic obligation could cover four main areas, namely, not to test, deploy, or use in outer space any weapons, weapon systems or their components; not to test, deploy or use on land, in sea or atmosphere any weapons, weapon systems or their components that can be used for war-fighting in outer space; not to use any objects launched into orbit to directly participate in combatant activities; not to assist or encourage other countries, regions, international organization or entities to participate in activities prohibited by this legal instrument. Under the above- mentioned basic obligations, all space- based weapons and all weapons attacking outer space targets from the earth are to be prohibited once and for all."
Hu stressed that negotiating such an international legal instrument is a necessary and pressing task for multilateral arms control and disarmament. Hu cited the development of the missile defense program and the "space control" plan as salient examples of why action must be taken now to prevent the militarization of space.
Hu concluded: "In a nutshell, the weaponization of outer space will be detrimental to the interests and security of each and every State, including the very one that introduces weapons into outer space. Its consequences will be most serious and in no one's interest." ["Statement by Ambassador Hu Xiaodi for Disarmament Affairs of China at the Plenary of the Conference on Disarmament," 6/7/01, Geneva.] [Full Text Speech]
02/15/2001: Hu Xiaodi, China's Ambassador for Disarmament Affairs, provided a statement to the Conference on Disarmament in which he outlined China's continued opposition to outer space weaponization for the new century. Hu stated that:
"[China] will continue to undertake its obliged international responsibilities. China is ready to make greater efforts to safeguard enduring peace and common security of all countries in the world."
Hu noted that the most urgent task today is preserving and strictly observing the ABM Treaty so that the potential weaponization of outer space is kept in check. He expressed "serious concern" over both the proposed US missile defense system and the space war exercise it conducted in January. This exercise "irrefutably demonstrated that the weaponization of outer space is imminent", which runs counter to the "common aspiration of mankind to use outer space, the heritage of all peoples, for peaceful purposes."
He urged all countries, "those with great space capabilities in particular, to strictly abide by all relevant international conventions and arms control and disarmament agreements concerning outer space." Of particular importance:
"The conference on Disarmament should immediately reestablish an Ad Hoc Committee under the agenda item of Prevention of an Arms Race in Outer Space (PAROS) to negotiate and conclude an international legal instrument or instruments preventing the weaponization of an arms race in outer space, as urged by the relevant UNGA resolution, with a view to remedying the deficiencies in the existing international legal regime."
Hu accused the US of obstructing the PAROS negotiations in the CD and warned that continued US obstruction will undermine the interests of all countries including its own. ["Statement: By H.E. Mr. Hu Xiaodi, Ambassador for Disarmament Affairs and Head of Delegation of the People's Republic of China at the Plenary of the Conference on Diarmament," 2/15/01, Geneva.] [Full Text Speech]
01/10/2001: China's Shenzhou-2 (SZ-2) unmanned spaceship was launched from Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center. The SZ-2 vehicle and its Long March 2-F booster were virtually identical to the Shenzhou-1 launch that occurred in November 1999. Life science, space material, astronomy and physics experiments were all conducted onboard the craft in microgravity conditions. With it expanded system architecture, there were improvements in its technical performance compared to SZ-1. The SZ-2 module orbited the Earth 108 times during its 7 day flight. ["Backgrounder on China's Four Unmanned Space Flights," Xinhua, 11 October 2003 in FBIS CPP20031011000079.]
12/21/2000: China successfully launched its second Beidou navigation positioning satellite completing the two satellite system. However China plans to launch a third Beidou in the future, reportedly as a backup. According to Chinese Press Reports, the advanced technological system will be used in a variety of roles promoting China's economic growth. The system is capable of zeroing in on any customer's location with accurate longitude, latitude and altitude statistics. ["China Puts Second Navigation Positioning Satellite into Orbit," Xinhua, 21 December 2000 in FBIS CPP20001220000170.]
11/22/2000: The Information Office of the State Council issued a white paper entitled "China's Space Activities", stating that "China persistently supports activities involving the peaceful use of outer space, and maintains that international space cooperation shall be promoted and strengthened on the basis of equality and mutual benefit, mutual complementarity and common development."
The Chinese government contends that international space cooperation should follow the fundamental principles listed in the "Deceleration on International Cooperation on Exploring and Utilizing Outer Space for the Benefits and Interests of All Countries, Especially in Consideration of Developing Countries' Demands," which was approved by the 51st General Assembly of the United Nations in 1996.
The white paper reiterates China's principles in
carrying out and developing international space cooperation.
The white paper stresses that China attaches great
importance to space cooperation in the Asia-Pacific region as well as
multilateral cooperation in the field as exemplified by its support and
participation in the UN space applications program.
The white paper concludes by noting that the Chinese government will continuously render support to international exchanges and cooperation in space technology, space applications and space science, with priority being given to cooperation in the following areas:
- Actively enhancing multilateral cooperation in space technology and applications in the Asian-Pacific region, and promoting regional economic growth and environmental and natural calamity monitoring with space technology.- Supporting Chinese space enterprises to participate in international space commercial launching services in line with the principles of equality, equity and reciprocity.
- Giving support to using China's mature space technology and space application technology to carry out cooperation with other developing countries and provide services to cooperating countries on the basis of mutual benefit.
- Supporting international exchanges and cooperation in earth environment monitoring, space environmental exploration, and studies of micro-gravity science, space physics and space astronomy, particularly international exchanges and cooperation in micro-gravity fluid physics, space materials science, space life science and space biology. ["White Paper: China Supports Peaceful Use of Outer Space," Xinhua, 11/22/00 in FBIS CPP20001122000035.][Full Text Document]
10/31/2000: China successfully launched the first in a series of three indigenously produced regional navigation positioning satellite. The Beidou-1 was launched off of a Long March 3-A carrier rocket. The satellite and rocket were developed by the Research Institute of Space Technology under the China Space Science and Technology Group. The Beidou navigation system, although experimental in nature, will provide up to date all-weather regional information for sectors such as seafaring and highway and railway transportation. ["China Puts 1st Navigation Positioning Satellite Into Orbit," Xinhua, 31 October 2000 in FBIS CPP200001030000131.]
10/16/2000: Chinese delegate Guan Jian, addressing the general debate of the United Nations Fourth Committee (Special Political and Decolonization) on international cooperation in the peaceful use of outer space, reiterated China's position that the development and testing of weapons systems in outer space and any other military use of outer space violated the fundamental principles of the its peaceful uses. He stated that the ultimate purpose of the exploration and utilization of outer space should be to create a better environment for the survival and development of humanity. To this end, Guan proposed that it was necessary to negotiate an international agreement on the prevention of an arms race in outer space.
Guan concluded by noting that to build a more sound legal framework for peaceful uses of outer space in the new century, the conclusion of a comprehensive convention on space law undoubtedly merited the full attention of the Committee. The Chinese space industry had made numerous advances in the past year, and China would work harder and contribute more to the great cause of exploring and using outer space for peaceful purposes. ["China Calls For Ban On Arms Race In Outer Space," Xinhua, 10/16/00 in FBIS CPP20001016000268.]
09/14/2000:
Hu Xiaodi, China's Ambassador for Dissarmament Affairs, provided a statement to
the Conference on Disarmament concerning the negative impacts of the national
missile defense system (NMD) on the prevention of an arms race in outer
space. Hu recognized that international legal mechanisms, like the ABM
treaty, prohibit the deployment of weapons of mass destruction (WMD) in
outerspace, but need to be "augmented and improved" because it is "more
important and urgent" to "prevent the weaponization of outer space by any other
weaponry."
Regardless of whether NMD develops as a limited or
more advanced system, Hu states that it will "undoubtedly include space weapon
systems." If so, "outer space will be part of the battlefield." The
deployment of NMD would effectively nullify the ABM treaty. In such an
environment:
"Other countries cannot but make necessary responses, as their important security interests will be adversely affected. As a result, it is very likely that an arms race in outer space will follow."
Hu turned his attention to PAROS to state that it should be delinked from the Fissile Materials Control Treaty (FMCT) so that priority within the CD can be given to preventing the weaponization of outer space and an arms race in outer space. ["Statement by Mr. Ju Xiaodi Ambassador for Disarmament Affairs at the Plenary of the Conference on Disarmament," 9/14/01 Geneva.][Full Text Speech]
06/22/2000: Hu Xiaodi, China's Ambassador for Disarmament Affairs,
put forward a series of proposals to resume substantive work in the Conference
on Disarmament.
"First, the CD's program of work should be considered as a whole and every item on its agenda should be treated in a comprehensive and balanced way.In view of the fact that different sides and parties insist on different priority items, comprehensiveness and balance are the only guarantee for fair play, ensuring that the interests and concerns of all states are appropriately taken care of.
Second, the CD's work is not conducted in a vacuum and the current international reality should not be ignored. Therefore, the CD's program of work must address, rather than evade, the real problems in the international security, particularly those developments which have major negative impacts on international peace and on arms control and disarmament.
Proceeding from these considerations, the Chinese delegation is prepared to seriously study and actively support all proposals that meet the above mentioned requirements, including the establishment of negotiating mechanisms for the three agenda items, namely the prevention of an arms race in outer space, nuclear disarmament, and the fissile material cut-off treaty."["PRC Offers Proposals for Restarting 'Substantive' Work by Disarmament Conference," Beijing Xinhua in English 1101 GMT 22 June 2000, in FBIS CPP20000622000151.]
Hu also put forward a proposal to re-establish the ad hoc committee on the prevention of an arms race in outer space. The ad hoc committee would undertake the tasks of negotiating and concluding an international legal instrument banning the test, deployment and use of any weapons, weapon systems and their components in outer space. Hu Xiaodi stated before the Conference on Disarmament,
"The Untied Nations General Assembly once again adopted at its 54th session by an overwhelming majority the resolution on the prevention of an arms race in outer space. The resolution reiterates that the CD has the primary task in the negotiation of a multilateral agreement or agreements on the prevention of an arms race in outer space. This again shows that the majority of countries in the world are worried about the prospect of an arms race in outer space, and feel that the prevention of an arms race in outer space is a realistic and urgent issue faced by the international community."
Hu Xiaodi stressed that development of national and theater missile defense systems would culminate in the placement of weapons and weapons systems in outer space, turning outer space into a new weapons base and battlefield. Hu warned,
"If we do not negotiate now for a legal instrument to prevent armament and an arms race in outer space, I am afraid we will have to hold negotiations on 'disarmament in outer space' and on 'preventing the proliferation of weapons in outer space' in the near future. Because of this, we should take all feasible measures to firmly halt the development of the current dangerous situation and prevent the armament and arms race in outer space." Hu then went on to say,"There are many loopholes and ambiguities in some existing international legal instruments. It is impossible to efficiently resolve new problems brought by the development of situations. Therefore, it will also be impossible to effectively prevent an arms race or armament in outer space. To truly prevent armament and an arms race in outer space, apart from consolidating and strengthening the relevant existing international legal instruments and raising their efficiency, the international community must urgently negotiate and conclude a new legal instrument. The CD is the only organization holding multilateral disarmament negotiations in the current world. It should focus its task on the international arms control and disarmament area that are most urgent and most important, and that affect international peace and security most. 'Outer space' is such an agenda and should become one of the top priority subjects in the CD's agendas."[Yan Ming, "PRC Ambassador Calls for Conclusion of Document on Preventing Outer Space Arms Race," Beijing Xinhua in Chinese 1208 GMT 22 June 2000, in FBIS CPP20000622000180.]
02/24/2000: Hu Xiaodi, China's Ambassador for Disarmament Affairs,
in a speech responded to the US Ambassador to the Conference of Disarmament's 17
February statements by stating:
"The distinguished US representative also mentioned that 'there is a broad understanding' in the Conference that the two topics of nuclear disarmament and PAROS 'are not ripe for treaty negotiations in the CD.' I'm afraid the majority of the member States of the Conference, including China, will not agree to this assertion. . . As we all recall, the resolution on Prevention of an Arms Race in Outer Space adopted again by the UN General Assembly last year reiterates explicitly that the Conference has the primary role in the negotiation of a multilateral agreement or agreements on the prevention of an arms race in outer space in all its aspects and invites the Conference to establish an ad hoc committee as early as possible during the 2000 session of the Conference. Eighty-seven percent of the UN member states (162 states) voted for this resolution, only two states abstained, and no state voted against it. The current reality in this Conference is that only few country [sic], even only one country, due to its own outer-space weapon development program, insists that it is 'not ripe' to negotiate on prevention of an arms race in outer space in the Conference on Disarmament. . .""The distinguished United States representative said that the United States neither practiced a double standard toward arms control agreements nor tried to weaken or abolish the ABM Treaty. This is most welcome if the words are really honored by the deeds. I hope to see that the declarations on civilian chemical industry are made in strict accordance with the time requirement of the CWC, that the practice of setting conditions for the implementation of the CWC verification system through domestic law could be abrogated, and that the CTBT could be ratified at an early date. What is more important is to support the UNGA resolution on the preservation of and compliance with the ABM treaty, stop seeking the amendment of that treaty, refrain from the testing and deployment inconsistent with that treaty, and never make the threat that the ABM treaty must be amended, otherwise a state party will withdraw from it. . ."
"The distinguished US representative mentioned 'the nuclear force modernization'. For a country always taking the lead in the qualitative development of nuclear weapons and their delivery vehicles, to take other people to task for 'modernization' is hypocritical. . ."
"The distinguished representative of the United States spoke of the missile test in 1996. By this he alluded to the issue of Taiwan. I must solemnly point out that the Taiwan issue is completely an internal affair of China. No powers in the world, including the United States, can stop the Chinese people from realizing the re-unification of their motherland." [Speech Full Text ]
02/17/2000: US Ambassador to the Conference on Disarmament,
Robert Grey, responded to China’s criticism of US plans to develop missile
defense systems by questioning China’s proliferation activities. Grey
stated:
“The representative of China implied that the US practiced a double standard towards arms control agreements and was trying to weaken or abolish the ABM Treaty. I reject this assertion. . . The threat of proliferation of weapons of mass destruction using advanced means of delivery is real, growing and increasingly unpredictable. The United States is considering a limited system to defense against such threats. The spread of these technologies shouldn’t have happened but regrettably it did. Those who allowed it to happen should have known what the consequences would be. We have made clear that we are committed to work with Russia, in a spirit of cooperation against a threat we both face, to identify adaptations of the ABM Treaty that would make provisions consistent with a limited national missile defense. Four of the five nuclear weapon states have reduced their holdings of these weapons and increased transparency. The other nuclear weapon state is modernising its forces and is not increasing its transparency. This same state decided to test-fire missiles in 1996 in response to political developments of which it did not approve, and it has been building new missile fields in locations that raise concerns. Yet this state’s representatives accuse the US of practising hegemonism and seeking unilateral security at the expense of the security of other states. And they call into question an open orderly process aimed at finding necessary adaptations that can keep a long-standing arms control agreement relevant and effective.”
Grey also asserted that China’s insistence on conducting parallel negotiations on outer space weapons with negotiations on the Fissile Material Cutoff Treaty (FMCT) was an effort to block talks on the FMCT. [“US Hits At China In Spat Over Anti-Missile Shield,” Reuters, 18 February 2000 and "US Denies Trying to Weaken or Scrap Ballistic Missile Treaty, 17 February 2000.]
02/10/2000:In a speech to the Conference on Disarmament, China's Ambassador for Disarmament Affairs, Hu Xiaodi, introduced a working paper entitled "China's Position on and Suggestions for Ways to Address the Issue of Prevention of an Arms Race in Outer Space at the Conference on Disarmament," which detailed China's position on PAROS, how to address the issue of PAROS, its views on the existing international legal instruments concerning PAROS and tentative ideas on new international instruments. [Speech Full Text ]
02/10/2000: Russia backed a Chinese proposal at the Conference on Disarmament calling for a committee to negotiate a global treaty banning the testing, deployment and use of weapons in outer space. Hu Xiaodi, China's Ambassador for Disarmament Affairs, stated, "The negotiation and conclusion of an international legal instrument or instruments on the prevention of the weaponization of and an arms race in outerspace should be set as the definite direction and ultimate goal of the work committee." Russia's Ambassador to the Conference on Disarmament, Vasily Sidorov said that "'events in recent times' should incite the Conference on Disarmament to act on outer space. . . 'It is urgent to tackle this problem.'" ["China and Russia Back Pact To Ban Space Weapons," Reuters, 18 February 2000.]
11/20/1999: China launched its first experimental spacecraft "Shenzhou" (Divine Vessel) from Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in Gansu Province. The Shenzhou vehicle was boosted into orbit by a Long March 2-F (LM-2F) version of its LM-2 series of commercial boosters. It landed after a mission time of 21 hours. This represented the first time that Chinese engineers had assembled and tested the rocket in an upright position and also, the first significant test of a new land and sea based network of control and monitoring stations. ["Backgrounder on China's Four Unmanned Space Flights," Xinhua, 11 October 2003 in FBIS CPP20031011000079.]
10/14/1999: China and Brazil launched the first Earth Resources Satellite (CBERS) off of a Long March 4B rocket in Taiyuan. CBERS is the first cooperative program in space technology between two developing countries. China and Brazil will continue the program until at least four satellites have been launched, as stipulated in the agreement signed in 1995. Under the agreement Brazil will pay for 30% of the cost while China will pay for 70% on the first two launches, after that China and Brazil will both pay equal shares of the cost. The satellite, also known as Ziyuan-1, will contain a payload module and a common service platform. The payload module will contain a 5-spectral band pushbroom CCD camera, a high bit rate data transmission system, advanced three-axis stabilization attitude and orbit control, on-board data handling system and S-band integrated TT&C system, and other advanced payload equipment. According to a report in Aerospace China the CCD camera is the first to be developed in China and “uses the scanning type imaging technique to obtain visible and near infrared earth mapping information. [It also] has the ability for fixed-point side-looking observation. The satellites infrared camera uses a bi-directional scanning imaging technique to acquire near infrared and hot infrared earth mapping information.” The satellite also holds three X-band data transmission systems, two of which are for the CCD camera. The other data transmission is used to “transmit the infrared scanner data, the wide-field imager data and beacon signal.” The information gathered from the satellite will be used “to survey and monitor agricultural resources, produce estimated of agriculture production, monitor grasslands and forestry resources, observe and monitor disasters, make geological maps, survey and track mineral and nuclear energy resources and survey petroleum, natural gas and ferrous metals.” [“Payload of China-Brazil Earth Resources Satellite Described,” Beijing Zhongguo Hangtian, March 1 2000; “CBERS-1 Satellite Completes First Year in Orbit,” Beijing Zhongguo Hangtian, 1 November 2000.]
10/13/1999: Shen Guofang, China's deputy permanent representative to the United Nations, delivered a speech to the UN First Committee which reiterated China's opposition to the militarization of space. The majority of his comments refer to the US efforts to develop missile defenses and to block international efforts to limits missile defense development.
"A certain country has, on the one hand, tried hard to block the establishment of the Ad Hoc Committee on PAROS at the Conference on Disarmament (CD), but on the other hand, pressed rapidly ahead in pursuing its outer space and missile defense programs in an attempt to seek military advantage on the ground through dominating and controlling outer space. . . The development in the vigorous pursuit of missile defense systems since the beginning of this year is most disturbing. The international community is confronted with the danger of weaponization of outer space and the repudiation of the ABM Treaty. Under such a circumstance, it has become a pressing issue for the international community to find ways to strengthen their efforts against an arms race in outer space. We maintain that relevant UNGA (United Nations General Assembly) resolution to be adopted this year should continue to urge the CD to re-establish the Ad Hoc Committee at an early date next year and immediately begin its substantive work so as to reverse the negative developments in the field of PAROS and missile defense." [Full Speech Text]
03/22/1999: In a Space News article, a US government official at the Conference on Disarmament reacted to the Chinese proposal for the formation of an ad hoc committee to prevent an arms race in outer space by saying:
- "If you read carefully the various proposals that have been made banning
what they call 'the weaponization of space,' could be read to include a
communications satellite like this. Our position is clear. We
have no plans to develop things that go 'boom!' in space. But we do
have, and will continue to have, data-relay and command-and-control
satellites."
However, Li Changhe - China's Representative to the CD - rejected this argument, saying:
- "We have heard these rogue nation ideas many times and they are exaggerated.
The United States already has the most sophisticated weapons arsenal -
nuclear and conventional - on Earth. In addition, they want a missile
shield. We think this would put the whole strategic balance at stake,
and certainly compromise the [Anti-Ballistic Missile] treaty."
[de Selding, Peter B. "China Urges U.N. Ban On Space Weaponry," Space
News,
22 March 1999 p. 1, 19.]
03/11/1999: China's Ambassador for Disarmament Affairs, Li Changhe, in a statement at the Plenary Meeting of the Conference on Disarmament again called for the formation of an ad hoc committee to prevent an arms race in outer space. He stated:
- "I would hereby put forward the following proposal on the re-establishment
of an ad hoc committee and its mandate under agenda item 3 entitled
"Prevention of an arms race in outer space:"
"1. The Conference on Disarmament decides to reestablish under item 3 of its agenda entitled "Prevention of an arms race in outer space" an ad hoc committee which shall negotiate and conclude an international legal instrument banning the test, deployment and use of any weapons, weapon systems and their components in outer space, with a view to preventing the weaponization of outer space."
"2. In carrying out its mandate, the ad hoc committee shall take into
consideration all relevant proposals present and future and report to the
Conference on the progress of its work before the conclusion of the 1999
session." [Li Changhe, Ambassador
for Disarmament Affairs of China, Statement at the Plenary Meeting of the
Conference on Disarmament, 11 March 1999.]
03/10/1999: Wang Xiaoyu, a First Secretary in China's UN Geneva office, speaking at the Women's International League for Peace and Freedom (WILPF) gave four proposals for preventing an arms race in outer space. He stated:
- "1. Ensure the peaceful use of outer space, resolutely oppose arms
race in outer space. At the current stage, the primary objective
should be the prevention of the weaponization of outer space, i.e.,
prohibiting the testing, deployment and use of any weapons, weapon systems
and their components in outer space."
"2. Negotiate and conclude as soon as possible international legal instruments on the prevention of an arms race in outer space to supplement the existing ones concerning outer space. In this regard, the Conference on Disarmament, as the single multilateral disarmament negotiation forum, should live up to its obligations. It should establish an ad hoc committee to negotiate and conclude legal instruments banning the test, deployment and use of any weapons, weapon systems and their components in outer space, with a view to preventing the weaponization of outer space."
"3. Countries with most advanced space capabilities, especially those that are currently intensifying their efforts in the development and testing of weapons or weapons systems, should assume special responsibilities and demonstrate genuine political will through undertaking not to research, develop, test, deploy and use any weapons, weapon systems as well as their components in outer space and to destroy all those weapons."
"4. The international community, including women, should, through joint efforts, strengthen the supervision of and oppose all activities that run counter to the peaceful use of outer space or detrimental to the global and regional peace and security as well as the strategic stability." [Wang Xiaoyu, Presentation at the WILPF Seminar, "Prevention of An Arms Race inOuter Space," 10 March 1999.]
08/13/1998: During the 803rd Plenary Meeting of the Conference on Disarmament in Geneva, Chinese UN Ambassador for Disarmament Affairs, Li Changhe, gave a speech entitled, "On the Prevention of an Arms Race in Outer Space," in which he called for the creation of an ad hoc committee to address space weapons. ["U.S. Resists China's Call For Space Weapons Limits," Space News, 17-23 August 1998.]
07/27/1998: China further clarified its position on space weapons in its white paper, China's National Defense, stating:
"Outer space belongs to all mankind, and should be used exclusively for peaceful purposes to benefit mankind. To this end, China stands for the complete prohibition and thorough destruction of weapons deployed in outer space. It opposes the development of anti-satellite weapons. China maintains that the international community, the big powers with the capacity to utilize outer space in particular, should take the following realistic steps to prevent a weaponized outer space: A complete ban on weapons of any kind in outer space, including anti-missile and anti-satellite weapons, so as to keep outer space free of weapons; a ban on the use of force or conduct of hostilities in, from or to outer space; and all countries should undertake neither to experiment with, produce or deploy outer space weapons nor, to utilize outer space to seek strategic advantages on the ground, for example, using disposition of the important parts of ground anti-missile systems in outer space for the purpose of developing strategic defensive weapons. In addition, negotiations should be held as soon as possible for the conclusion of a legally-binding international agreement with the above-mentioned contents."
03/12/1998: In his first speech to the Conference on Disarmament (CD), Chinese Ambassador for Disarmament Affairs Li Changhe stated:
- "Outer space belongs to the whole mankind and should be used solely for
peaceful purposes for the benefit of humanity. All countries, especially
those with advanced space capabilities should refrain from the development
of outer space weapons. They should take concrete actions to prevent an arms
race in outer space. It is a shared view of the international community that
the existing international legal instruments related to outer space are far
from adequate for effective prevention of an arms race in outer space. Like
other countries, China is concerned about some activities in the development
and testing of components of outer space weapons or weapon systems in recent
years. These activities are designed to use outer space for consolidating
and strengthening military superiority on the ground."
[Statement by Li Changhe, Chinese
Ambassador for Disarmament Affairs, to the Conference on Disarmament, at the
Plenary Meeting, 12 March 1998.]
11/12/1997: At the UN First Committee, China stated:
- "China is concerned with the use of advanced technology for the development
of weapons of mass destruction. An even greater concern to China is the use
of advanced technology for the development of outer space weapons (such as
anti-satellite weapons) and so-called theater missile defense (TMD) systems.
From this perspective, the military use of science and technology is as
significant in terms of conventional weapons as it is in terms of weapons of
mass destruction."