China Shoots Down a Second Satellite
Tad | Aug 04, 2010 |
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It was reported at the end of last month that China successfully shot down one of its redundant satellites in January. Allegedly, the firing took place at nearly the same time as a successful Chinese missile interception test conducted on January 11. Given the reaction to its 2007 launch, some observers have suggested that the recent launch may have been ordered as a means for Beijing to vent displeasure over recent Taiwanese efforts to buy the Patriot missile defense system from the U.S. However, others claim that the time needed to prepare for such a launch makes this notion unlikely. Either way, the news is further evidence of continuing Chinese efforts to boost their space based military capabilities, and given the outcry following the last test, has probably not been met with cheers from countries possessing satellite capabilities.
In context of this news, Beijing’s official position on space might come as a surprise to some:
“The Chinese government has all along regarded the space industry as an integral part of the state's comprehensive development strategy, and upheld that the exploration and utilization of outer space should be for peaceful purposes and benefit the whole of mankind.”
China’s official position is probably guided by the concerns over the prospect of space based missile defense systems which might one day render its relatively few numbers of ICBMs useless. However, just as in 2007, China risks losing legitimacy in this regard when it destroys its own satellites....
