China's PLA eyes 4th branch of military: Space
Tuesday, July 7, 2009 E-Mail this story Free Headline Alerts
East-Asia-Intel.com
Chinese military experts are calling for setting up military space forces, an indication that BeijingÕs military is moving ahead with plans to wage space war in a future conflict.
The Beijing Zhongguo Xinwen She, the official news service for overseas Chinese, reported recently that space, dubbed ÒskyÓ by Chinese, is now a fourth domain after land sea and air.
ÒThe vast and boundless space has become the arena of rivalry and contention between various countries, and warning signals have emerged everywhere,Ó the report said. ÒBefore long, the Ôheavenly troopsÕ in Chinese classical myths will become reality.Ó
Wang Faan, researcher in the PLA Academy of Military Science, told the news outlet that Òin accordance with the development trend in the future and the changes in the international situation, while planning the building of services and arm[ed] branches, the Chinese military should consider and plan the establishment of the space force in due course.Ó
In January 2007, China tested an anti-satellite weapon by firing a ground-based missile that destroyed a Chinese weather satellite. The ASAT test shocked U.S. military planners because it demonstrated a strategic asymmetric warfare capability that could be used to cripple the U.S. military in a conflict.
The report said ChinaÕs military modernization efforts are aimed at producing high-technology forces. ÒThe establishment of a space force should be planned in due course,Ó it declared.
The comments, appearing in an official state-run news organization, appear to contradict ChinaÕs public position of seeking to ban space weapons.
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