Space arms race 'an inevitability'
Andrew Nowicki
Top China air force commander has called the militarisation of space
an "historical inevitability", state media said today, marking an
apparent shift in Beijing's opposition to weaponising outer space.
In a wide-ranging interview in the People's Liberation Army (PLA)
Daily, air force commander Xu Qiliang said it was imperative for the
PLA air force to develop offensive and defensive operations in outer
space.
"As far as the revolution in military affairs is concerned, the
competition between military forces is moving towards outer space...
this is a historical inevitability and a development that cannot be
turned back,'' Commander Xu told the paper.
"The PLA air force must establish in a timely manner the concepts of
space security, space interests and space development.
"We must build an outer space force that conforms with the needs of
our nation's development (and) the demands of the development of the
space age.''
Superiority in outer space can give a nation control over war zones
both on land and at sea, while also offering a strategic advantage,
Commander Xu said, noting that such dominance was necessary to
safeguard the nation.
"Only power can protect peace,'' the 59-year-old commander said in the
interview given to coincide with this month's 60th anniversary of the
founding of the PLA air force.
China has long stated that it supported the peaceful uses of outer
space and opposed the introduction of weapons there. Beijing has also
sought to establish an international treaty to control the deployment
of weapons in space.
In January 2007, China surprised the world by shooting down one of its
own weather satellites in a test seen by many, including the United
States, as a possible trigger of an arms race
Doug Freyburger
>
> source: http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/breaking-news/space-arms-race-an-inevitability/story-e6freuz9-1225793638201
>
> Top China air force commander has called the militarisation of space
> an "historical inevitability", state media said today, marking an
Generals reading history books? No a bad thing overall.
> apparent shift in Beijing's opposition to weaponising outer space.
Having a general say something is not the same as having the civilians
in control say something.
> In a wide-ranging interview in the People's Liberation Army (PLA)
> Daily, air force commander Xu Qiliang said it was imperative for the
> PLA air force to develop offensive and defensive operations in outer
> space.
>
> "As far as the revolution in military affairs is concerned, the
> competition between military forces is moving towards outer space...
> this is a historical inevitability and a development that cannot be
> turned back,'' Commander Xu told the paper.
>
> "The PLA air force must establish in a timely manner the concepts of
> space security, space interests and space development.
>
> "We must build an outer space force that conforms with the needs of
> our nation's development (and) the demands of the development of the
> space age.''
>
> Superiority in outer space can give a nation control over war zones
> both on land and at sea, while also offering a strategic advantage,
> Commander Xu said, noting that such dominance was necessary to
> safeguard the nation.
>
> "Only power can protect peace,'' the 59-year-old commander said in the
> interview given to coincide with this month's 60th anniversary of the
> founding of the PLA air force.
He's using the bully pulpit to urge his civilian commanders to change
policy. Given what's happened on every frontier in history, eventually
he'll be right.
> China has long stated that it supported the peaceful uses of outer
> space and opposed the introduction of weapons there. Beijing has also
> sought to establish an international treaty to control the deployment
> of weapons in space.
>
> In January 2007, China surprised the world by shooting down one of its
> own weather satellites in a test seen by many, including the United
> States, as a possible trigger of an arms race
As with Antarctica the longer development proceeds without military the
better. Of course military presence is inevitable but that does not
mean it's not worth delaying as long as possible. Generals aren't
supposed to see it that way, and I'm not a general.
Eric Chomko
> andrew.nowicki...@gmail.com (Andrew Nowicki) wrote:
> > Top China air force commander has called the militarisation of space
> > an "historical inevitability", state media said today, marking an
> > apparent shift in Beijing's opposition to weaponising outer space.
>
> > In a wide-ranging interview in the People's Liberation Army (PLA)
> > Daily, air force commander Xu Qiliang said it was imperative for the
> > PLA air force to develop offensive and defensive operations in outer
> > space.
>
> missing the memo:
The problem is for every "Cowboy Xu" there are American, Russian, and
other country's counterparts that simply think that way. War is
inevitable, like "shit happens"; as if there is no possible
alternative. This Patton-esque thinking even gets rewarded. Sort of
crazy really.
>
> > China has long stated that it supported the peaceful uses of outer
> > space and opposed the introduction of weapons there.
>
> Yeah, it acceded to the Outer Space Treaty what, 25 years ago? Which
> means no nukes or WMDs in space, and more importantly, you have to pay
> if your space objects cause any damage to things.
We'll see how long that lasts.
>
> > Beijing has also sought to establish an international treaty to
> > control the deployment of weapons in space.
>
> I could see the value of broadening the OST to cover *all* weapons...
Well I saw recently on the History Channel a whole program discussing
weapons in outer space. Sure the Americans will claim that they have
to do stuff like that to protect themselves from people like Xu
Qiliang. And I'm sure that sort of response makes Xu Qiliang feel he
must protect China from possible attack in space as well, so here we
are....again.
Eric