China space threat growing at ‘breathtaking pace’: Space Command chief

U.S. Space Command commander Gen. Stephen Whiting said Thursday that space has become a “growing security challenge” and China is improving its military space capabilities at a “breathtaking pace.” he warned.

Speaking before the Senate Armed Services Committee, Whiting told lawmakers that space “is now at the center of all security operations.”

He said the U.S. Space Force is focused on security in Earth’s orbit, but also looks at “potential threats” beyond that.

“There is an urgent need for our command to advocate for new space capabilities.”
and the ability to maintain a durable competitive advantage,” Whiting said.

He outlined that China is a major growing threat in the space domain, and said China is focused on strengthening its military capabilities in all areas to become a major world power and a global military power. Ta.

He said that by 2030, China will reach “world-class status in all fields except a few space technology fields.”

The Chinese government is “building up its military space and counterspace capabilities at a breathtaking pace in order to deny American and allied space capabilities whenever they wish,” Whiting said. of ground forces. ”

Whiting noted that since 2018, China has more than tripled its presence in orbit, deployed more than 359 systems in its satellite fleet, and increased its ability to monitor U.S. operations.

China also has an anti-space weapons program that gives Beijing options to damage U.S. systems and space, including space-based anti-satellite weapons.

Whiting’s testimony came after the United States warned last month that Russia could deploy space nuclear weapons capable of attacking other satellites. Russian President Vladimir Putin denied these claims.

But Whiting said Russia “continues to pursue a range of counterspace weapons,” including “directed energy weapons and satellite communication jammers,” as well as offensive cyberspace weapons.

“These weapons are intended to disrupt, intimidate, and destroy space and space targets.
Otherwise, we will be denied freedom of action in space,” he said. “Russia views counterspace capabilities as a means to deter aggression from space-dependent adversaries.”

Space has been a threat since the Cold War, when the United States and Soviet Union developed anti-satellite weapons capabilities. The 1967 Outer Space Treaty, signed by the United States and Russia, prohibits nuclear weapons and weapons of mass destruction in space.

The Space Force was created by the Trump administration to focus on emerging threats in space.