China seeks to dominate space, warns US general

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Watch latest videos

News RELEASES

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

More Information

25 ℃

Fair in Caracas

Business

Section

EV sales in US up 9%, still below many countries

DETROIT, Michigan: US electric vehicle (EV) sales are expected to reach a record of 9% of all passenger vehicles this ...

U.S. stocks weaken as traders return after Thanksgiving

NEW YORK, New York - U.S. stocks closed marginally lower as traders returned to their desks Monday following the Thanksgiving ...

Warren Buffett gives away Berkshire stocks worth $866 million

OMAHA, Nebraska: On November 21, Warren Buffett announced a donation of Berkshire Hathaway stocks worth some US$866 million to four ...

Hawaii looks to streamline travel process for Japanese visitors

HONOLULU, Hawaii: The islands' leaders are working on streamlining the travel process for Japanese tourists, making it more convenient for ...

Thanksgiving weekend seeing busy roads and crowded airports

WASHINGTON D.C.: After the COVID-19 pandemic almost ended the tradition of visiting friends and family over the long holiday weekend, ...

GM's Cruise to re-launch driverless robotaxis

SAN FRANCISCO, California: Just weeks after California banned its self-driving vehicles from public roads after an accident last month, Cruise, ...

International

Section