China And Russia Clash With US Over Space Weapons Treaty

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Last October, President Bush (seen here with the joint chiefs) signed an order asserting the U.S. right to space weapons, and Washington's opposition to the development of treaties or other measures restricting them. Photo courtesy AFP.

China Wants To Promote Rules Against Arms Race In Space
Beijing (XNA) Feb 15 - China is working with Russia and many other countries to finalize a convention to prevent an arms race in outer space during a Conference on Disarmament, said the spokeswoman of China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs yesterday. China suggested the prohibition of "weaponization" in outer space, said the spokeswoman Jiang Yu. China supports the decision of the General Assembly of the United Nations to prevent an arms race in outer space together with other UN member countries, and it will keep on promoting to make progress in the domain together with the international community, Jiang said.

She said China, which sticks to the path of peaceful development, adheres to independent foreign policies and a national defense policy that is defensive in nature. China is always a stable force for maintaining world peace. China always advocates the peaceful use of outer space and the further international communication and cooperation in the peaceful use of it, Jiang added. She stressed that China firmly opposes "weaponization" and an arms race in outer space, and that China has never participated in any arms race in outer space.

by Staff Writers
Washington (VOA) Feb 15, 2007
China and Russia clashed with the United States Tuesday over a proposal to the United Nations Conference on Disarmament to create a treaty on space weapons. During a meeting of the conference in Geneva Tuesday, Beijing and Moscow voiced their opposition to the U.S. refusal to sign a treaty banning space weapons, and warned that it could lead to an arms race in space.

In January, China secretly tested a satellite-destroying missile, shooting down one of its aging weather satellites. It later publicly confirmed the test, arguing that other countries should not view the test as a threat.

Last October, President Bush signed an order asserting the U.S. right to space weapons, and Washington's opposition to the development of treaties or other measures restricting them.

Speaking at the meeting in Geneva today, U.S. Ambassador Christina Rocca voiced Washington's commitment to the peaceful use of space. She stressed, however that the United States would also pursue programs to protect its satellites and spacecraft.

Rocca said Washington was very concerned about emerging threats to U.S. space assets.

She criticized China's recent test of its satellite missile, noting that it had created hundreds of pieces of large orbital debris that will stay in orbit for more than 100 years.

The Conference on Disarmament was established in 1979 and focuses on the prevention of nuclear war, the use or threat of nuclear weapons and other disarmament issues.

The organization is comprised of around 60 member countries and meets several times a year.

Source: Voice Of America

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US Should Worry About Chinese Anti-Satellite Device

Washington (VOA) Feb 15, 2007
Two U.S. experts say China's destruction of one of its own satellites last month marks a turning point for the United States, in terms of the potential for military confrontation in space. This despite Chinese assurances that the test was not directed against any other country.

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