In response to a U.S. plan to shoot down a malfunctioning spy satellite, China has warned against threats to security in outer space, without mentioning its own successful anti-satellite missile test last year.
The Chinese government also stopped short of linking the planned U.S. strike with Beijing’s repeated calls for a complete ban on space weapons.
The Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao said the Chinese government was highly concerned about the U.S. plan, Xinhua, the state-run news agency, reported late Sunday, noting that the target satellite was loaded with toxic fuel.
Liu also urged Washington to fulfill its international obligations and avoid threatening security in space and that of other countries, Xinhua quoted him as saying, without elaborating.
“Relevant departments of China are closely watching the situation and working out preventative measures,” Liu said.
China is worried about us shooting down our own satellite? Interesting how they can complain…….especially since they do as they please without so much as a “by your leave!” Of course, they wouldn’t mind having toxic fuels dumped on their own soil, since China is one of the most polluted countries in Asia, and the loss of a few thousand people wouldn’t matter to them, since they’re so callous about the value of human life.
Also, the satellite shot down by China last year was at a much higher altitude leaving debris that endangers everyone’s satellites for years. This is in contradistinction to the much lower American malfunctioning spy satellite. Pot calling kettle.
Whatever small amount of hydrazine remains at altitude after the satellite is destroyed represents no threat to the ground. It’s a red herring.
Why do we [the West] continue to prop up the Communist Chinese?
They are not our friends. Why do we sell them the rope to hang us with? Their vaunted industrial and economic rise is due to Western investment. This same industrial and economic rise is what is driving the great engines of pollution in China [and hence the world]. It is also a driving factor in the increased fuel prices we are paying. They are also one of the places our high paying manufacturing jobs are being outsourced to.
No one seems to remember the U.S. Navy EP-3 reconnaissance plane that was forced to make an emergency landing on China’s Hainan Island after colliding with a Chinese fighter jet and that the Chinese were not only holding on to our plane, but the crew as well. They have been involved in a long series of provocative events. The Chinese are a threat, not a trading partner.
The US at least could have a good chance to guide that missile down to a nice safe wide open ocean. Maybe the Chinese would prefer that it accidentally fall on their soil and then they would have something to really b*t*h about.
Maybe China is worried that something will penetrate that FILTHY atmosphere that they have created above their country. The fresh air will likely send millions into shock, paralyzing their country for days.
I don’t wonder if the Chinese figure that the satellite will come down in or near China, giving them yet another unearned technological boost.
“Unearned? For shame! We pay cash – ask Hillary!”
Does anyone actually think the US cares if China objects?
The U.S. maybe should care a little bit about what China thinks. Something about their holding billions and billions of U.S. debt.
Hi Ross52. I think the Chinese holding US debt is one of the bright spots in our international relations. The US is busy inflating its currency as fast as it can right now. When the dollar declines against foreign currency, what happens to the value of all of that debt that is being held? BTW, I think that US inflation is a deliberate ploy to handle all the debt, both foreign and domestic. The foreign debt is becoming worthless paper [for example, the dollar is down about 40% compared to the EURO, etc.] and the domestic debt of Social Security will be paid with inflated dollars. Remember, cost of living allowances are matched to core inflation, not REAL inflation…they don’t count things like food and fuel. I don’t like the strategy, but I think it is a brilliant swindle. Think about it…by inflating our money, we reduce the value of the notes held by other nations. We are legally “stealing back†our money. Every percentage point our currency drops against other currencies is a percentage point we are stealing back.
Fiat money. That’s the name of the game.
What are the Chinese going to do about our anti-satellite missile test? What can they do?
I think the Chinese military are concerned that the anti-missile shot will actually work…….and I have no reason to think that it won’t……..and if it does, it will show that we are light years ahead of them in anti-missile technology. They don’t like to “lose face.”
Maybe China should forget some of our debt after the pet food, toys etc. Anyhow who are they to tell anyone not to shoot a missile at a sattelite?! They just shot one down last year!