Serious Threats to US Space Operations from China and Russia? Says Pentagon
According to the Pentagon, China and Russia present a serious danger to the US space operation. To counter a possible American involvement during a regional military conflict, the two countries have weaponized space.
To hold US military inferiority in space amid growing counter-space efforts in Russia and China, the Pentagon unveiled a brand-new Defense Space Strategy.
The Pentagon said, ‘the threats from North Korea and Iran are also growing but threats from China and Russia are the most enduring’. Pentagon also added, ‘Their use of space is expanding crucially’.
China and Russia consider the use of space as a means for reducing the US military effectiveness and for winning wars.
The Space Strategy
2011 document issued by the Obama administration is now replaced by the updated space strategy from the Defense Department. Mark T Esper says, ‘To secure the Nation’s interest in space, the Defense Space Strategy is the way’.
The three main objectives of this strategy include to maintain space superiority, combined operations, and ensure space stability.
CNN reported that amid the pandemic, the Defense Department is struggling to pay attention to national security. Corona-virus has left numerous companies in desperate demand for capital.
Pentagon is also offering help to small US businesses. So, they can support themselves against adversarial investment and guarantee transparency.
‘Washington DC will probably take offshore supply chains as national security priorities if Donald Trump wins reelection ’, reported by Peter Navarro, Donald Trump’s trade adviser.
Navarro also said, ‘If we fail to do this then we will have failed this country and future of America.’ US allies are also warned to avoid economic over-reliance on China, by the US State Department.
US envoy says that China is on NATO radar more than ever. United State’s representative of NATO reported, ‘China can be a peaceful trade partner but it is not projecting that at the moment’.
He also said on the aggressive actions of China that, ‘ We should hope for the best and prepare for the worst’.
US’s Counter-strategy
Bill Greenwalt said, ‘In terms of bio-warfare, we should have been thinking about national security needs a long ago’. He also added, ‘We should have a trusted industrial base or a set of trusted allies’.
According to Pentagon, both countries reckon space access and denial as critical elements of their military and national strategies. Pentagon’s usage of space is expanding rapidly.
Hutchison said, China has desecrated tariffs, stolen intellectual belongings, and subsidies set down by the world courts. She also added that China does not have the capability to control its contractual obligations.
China has also militarized islands that they said would never occur as well as the restriction on Hong Kong.
The United States of America is very clear that they want China to be their partner. But, they cannot turn a wary eye to their aggressive behavior.
