Obama Deliberately Disarming USA in the Final Frontier?

“There is no such thing as a civilian space program in China. The [CNSA] is really a military operation. Therefore, we have to ask ourselves a question: Should we transfer technology to a potential adversary so that it can improve its war-fighting capabilities?” wrote Chang.”

“Conservative critics of Obama, particularly those who harbor a deep distrust of China, have jumped on Xu’s comments. They view these comments by Xu as further proof that China poses a strategic threat to the US and is not to be trusted either in space or on the ground. They contend that Obama is deliberately disarming the US on two fronts, putting the US increasingly at risk. First, in his attempt to eliminate nuclear weapons, and second, by scaling back and even eliminating funds for certain ballistic missile defense programs. Critics also see Xu’s comments as proof that China’s intended objective is space supremacy at all costs.” 

“Obama also seems reluctant to express any concerns about a large faction inside the PLA, and inside other branches of the Chinese government as a whole, which supports a more confrontational, anti-US stance.”

Space is Suddenly on the Agenda

by Peter J. Brown

United States President Barack Obama is preparing to make his first official trip to Asia this week, and a growing list of important economic and defense-related issues are on his agenda. From the time he touches down in Tokyo on Thursday until the time he flies home from Seoul – stops in Singapore, Shanghai and Beijing are also planned – Obama is going to be watched closely back home.
Obama’s visit to China is going through some last-minute changes due to recent remarks about China’s plans for space by General Xu Qiliang, commander of the People’s Liberation Army’s (PLA) Air Force. On November 1, in advance of activities marking the 60th anniversary of the founding of the PLA Air Force, Xu was interviewed by China’s PLA Daily.

“Only power could protect peace. Superiority in space and in air would mean, to a certain extent, superiority over the land and the oceans,” he said. “As the air force of a peace-loving country, we must forge our swords and shields in order to protect peace.”

According to Xu, “a country without adequate power would have no say when faced with challenges posed by the militarization in the space and air.” [1]

Xu also said that, “military competition has shifted towards space. Such a shift is a major trend now, and such expansion is a historical inevitability.” [2]

A few days later, China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) made clear that Xu’s comments were incomplete and had to be taken in context.

“I want to point out China has all along upheld the peaceful use of outer space. We oppose the weaponization of outer space or a space arms race,” said MFA spokesman Ma Zhaoxu. “China has never and will not participate in an outer space arms race in any form. The position of China on this point remains unchanged.” [3]

Among other things, Xu had failed to stay on message. On at least two occasions last month in speeches made at the United Nations (UN) General Assembly, China reaffirmed its established opposition to any arms race in space.

“The prevention of weaponization of and an arms race in outer space is an issue of high strategic significance. It also represents the common mission and responsibility on the part of international community,” ambassador Wang Qun, head of the Chinese delegation told an audience at the UN on October 10. He also urged the UN to “soon start its substantive discussions on the draft Treaty on the Prevention of the Placement of Weapons in Outer Space, the Threat or Use of Force Against Outer Space Object which was jointly presented by Russia and China in February last year, so as to contribute to improving the legal system concerning outer space and maintaining security in outer space.”

Continued HERE: http://www.atimes.com/atimes/China/KK12Ad01.html

Notes
1. China’s PLA eyes future in space, air: air force commander, Xinhua, Nov 11
2. US praises China’s space progress, BBC, Nov 4
3. China disavows general’s comments on space militarisation, Agence France-Press, Nov 5
4. The Space Arms Race Begins, Forbes, Nov 6