US watching China’s space activities for potential threat: Military official
A top US military official says Washington is closely watching China's space activities, raising concern that the advancements would potentially threaten American assets in the domain.
The head of the US Space Command, Army General James Dickinson, said in a telephone news conference with reporters in Asia that China "continue[s] to build and build capabilities that really, quite frankly, hold most of our assets at risk in the space domain."
"It really is an advancement if you will in their capabilities," he said, referring to China.
"Their understanding (is) that space is a very important piece to not only their economic or the global economic environment but also the military environment."
Dickinson said China believes "space is a very important piece to not only their economic or the global economic environment, but also the military environment, so we continue to watch that very closely as they continue to increase capabilities." The army general said his command, along with US Indo-Pacific Command, was focused on the challenge from China.
"A unified stance by allies and partners is critical to countering the coercion and subversion that threatens the international rules-based order here in the Indo-Pacific and beyond," he said.
China, however, says its space program is for peaceful purposes.
Dickinson made the remarks after three Chinese astronauts landed on earth on Sunday onboard the re-entry capsule of the Shenzhou-14 spacecraft.
China's space program has previously landed robotic rovers on Mars and the Moon, and it was the third country to put humans in orbit.
In 2003, China became the third government to send an astronaut into orbit on its own after the former Soviet Union and the United States.
US soldier detained in Russia for stealing
Pentagon shifts jets to Qatar after UAE bans use of base for strikes: WSJ
Niger: Russian military deployed at airbase housing American troops
VIDEO | US aircraft carrier returns to Red Sea as Yemen warns Israel over Rafah
Israel lost Gaza war and refusal to sign truce deal will only hasten its annihilation
VIDEO | Another mass grave uncovered in Gaza, bodies ‘without heads’ found
Russia vows retaliation after UK’s expulsion of defense attaché
Israel keeps bombing Rafah as truce talks resume in Cairo
Washington police clear pro-Palestine encampment, arrest dozens
VIDEO | Gaza truce on hold
Iran president urges global action for Gaza humanitarian aid
This makes it easy to access the Press TV website
