Ankara: China on Tuesday urged the US to stop expanding its military buildup in outer space after Washington publicly acknowledged for the first time that it has deployed operational weapons in Earth's orbit. "China has long been committed to the peaceful use of outer space and safeguarding the security in space. We oppose any arms race in outer space or any attempts to weaponize it or turn it into a war zone," Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun told reporters in Beijing.
According to Anadolu Agency, the remarks from China came following a statement by US Air Force Secretary Troy Meink, who revealed on Monday that the Space Force now possesses operational weapons in orbit. These weapons are intended to address threats from adversaries, marking a significant development in the militarization of space. Speaking at the Air, Space and Cyber Conference, Meink emphasized the readiness of the US to confront evolving threats wherever they may arise.
Meink further elaborated that the Space Force's space control weapons are designed to protect the joint force against hostile actions. Despite acknowledging the presence of these weapons, Meink refrained from providing specific details about their operational status, capabilities, or whether they include technologies such as kinetic impactors, directed energy, electronic warfare, or cyber capabilities.
He explained that the decision to publicly acknowledge the existence of these weapons was a strategic move to reinforce military deterrence. "Talking about the details of what we're doing would actually not benefit that deterrence," Meink stated. He stressed the importance of maintaining US dominance in space for both military and economic security.
The revelation comes amid escalating military competition in space, with the US, China, and Russia all developing counter-space capabilities. While the 1967 Outer Space Treaty prohibits the placement of nuclear weapons in orbit, it does not explicitly ban conventional weapons, leaving a loophole that could potentially fuel an arms race in space.
Security experts have expressed concerns that the US's public confirmation of orbital weapons might prompt rival nations to enhance their own space capabilities, further intensifying competition in a domain critical for global communications, navigation, intelligence gathering, and military operations.