BEIJING — China has urged the United States to halt its military buildup in outer space, warning that the deployment of weapons in orbit could trigger a global arms race and increase strategic tensions.
The warning followed comments from U.S. officials acknowledging that the United States has weapons deployed in orbit. U.S. Air Force Secretary Troy Meink said the weapons are intended to help defend against hostile actions involving space. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said Beijing opposes the weaponization of outer space and called on Washington to stop expanding its military capabilities there.
“China stands for peaceful use of outer space and keeping it safe, and opposes any arms race in outer space,” Guo said at a Foreign Ministry briefing on September 15. He urged the United States to maintain global strategic stability through concrete actions.
Chinese state media and military analysts have also warned that the expansion of U.S. military capabilities in orbit could encourage other countries to develop counter-space weapons, potentially creating a cycle of competition and increasing the risk of conflict in space.
The issue highlights growing international concerns over the military use of space. Russia has separately called for efforts to prevent an arms race in outer space, arguing that a legally binding agreement could help restrict offensive weapons in orbit.
The United States and China are already competing across several strategic areas, including advanced technology, artificial intelligence and military capabilities. The latest dispute adds space security to the growing list of issues affecting relations between the two powers.
