In an op-ed in Friday’s edition of the Washington Times, Fred Stakelbeck Jr., a “foreign affairs analyst based in Philadelphia”, argues that the Bush Administration’s decision to pursue potential cooperation with China in space is evidence that overall US policy regarding China is showing signs of inconsistency, with “pro-engagement” initiatives in space and other areas popping up:
In addition to joint military cooperation, the announcement last month by the Bush administration that the head of NASA, Michael Griffin, would travel to China to work on plans for a joint U.S.-China space mission, conflicts with past policy. The development of a space program is an important step for a developing country such as China. But many observers worry that China could use its newfound technological expertise to militarize space. Beijing has spent billions of dollars to develop a sophisticated satellite constellation designed specifically to collect and transmit data on the movements of U.S. military forces around the world.
Also, work on space and ground-based anti-satellite systems that can identify, track and destroy U.S. satellites is ongoing. As one Chinese general said, “The mastery of outer space will be requisite for military victory — a new frontier for combat.” And yet the Bush administration is now prepared to assist China’s space program. Why?
A few thoughts: right now, the shape of any potential cooperation between the US and China in space is very unclear. It may end up as some kind of “joint U.S.-China space mission”, but any cooperation that emerges from Mike Griffin’s trip to China this fall might be far more basic, like flying a US instrument on a Chinese spacecraft (or vice versa) or simply the exchange of scientific data.
Also, it’s not clear what Stakelbeck is referring to when he says China has ” spent billions of dollars to develop a sophisticated satellite constellation” to monitor US military forces. There’s no doubt that China does use its existing space assets to monitor US forces, but given that CNSA vice-administrator Luo Ge said a couple months ago that China’s annual space budget is around $500 million/year, has China really spent “billions” on such a system? One can argue that Luo was low-balling Chinese expenditures; he admitted that Chinese budgets are “very complicated”. Still, billions is a lot of money, particularly in China.
Stakelbeck also refers to anti-satellite work allegedly being conducted by the Chinese. I use “allegedly” since the evidence supporting it, primarily in Defense Department reports about China’s military, the same article notes that some people are highly skeptical of such claims.
We’ve got social security (for what that is temporarily worth), and they’ve got Hooters. We’ve got two parties but they’re all crooks and all the same. They’ve got one party but they have infights like the one leading up to Tiamanian square. What’s the difference anymore? Bush spies on all of us and they cruise the internet.
Why do we pretend we are anything close to enemies? WHen the American navy spyplane landed on their island, the Chinese wanted their autographs.
Friends should drink champagne together on Earth as it is in space.
This must be disheartening to the “race with China to the Moon” advocates. Instead of getting additional funds due to whipped up hysteria, NASA will now be forced to *spend* its money, out of what it’s got, on feel-good cooperation stunts with the Chinese and the corresponding bureaucratic overhead, by the political will of those in Congress promoting “engagement”. Truly, fear what you wish for.
It’s funny that “engagement” of China is considered something new. We’ve been “engaging” (i.e. actively propping it) for 20 years now. All we’ve got is a new competitor not only in economy but also in ideology (to replace the old SU I guess), and soon I presume, technology. This is just a continuation of this old bizarre policy. The one and only reason for the recent ‘rise’ of China are our own billions of dollars and free technologies that *we* handed to them out of our own free will. Right after the Tiananmen (sp?) butchery. I’m puzzled by it and especially its contrast with the Cold War policies (aren’t we supposed to “contain” them, or something), but what do I know about geopolitics. Btw, do you know how the Chinese deal with those “out of line”? A high-caliber machine gun to the back of the head, and the trigger is pulled. After a couple of seconds only lower of a person’s jaw remains. Meanwhile the US doesn’t even have enough courage to stand up for its economy on the propped Yuan deal in the WTO.
They got Hooters now. By a close 5-4 vote, our Supreme Court added vast social security socialism long ago. They let Tasmanianeman square go longer than Nixon’s 4 dead in Ohio. Their human launch vehicle is more ethical (has launch escape) than a space shuttle. We are not so different, dear comrades. They enjoyed drinking with Nixon – who was similar in mind to Stalin – both wanted to eliminate their political enemies. If I was Chinese I would not want to offend my toy dollar trade deficit partner – I’d be sure to let an American step off a Shenzhou first in the return to the moon while squeezing out the last few breaths of fading greenback from the greatly indebted society.
Again we Americans take a narrow perspective of the world. Although self interest is always a priority, we as a nation are still lead by a small minority of wealth and power, such as the Bush family. If you think Americans are that “free” just try and heckle a congressman during a speech, and see what happens to you. As for “containing” China. Why is it our job to police the world? Did the United Nations elect the US to this job? If the US is so unable to compete in the 21st century, and can only use its military might to remain the worlds no. 1 superpower, then we have already lost our position in the world.
Judging by the comments we’ve truly lost our position in the world. We’ve lost ourselves. There is no self-respect, nor decency. Hooters joints as an example of democracy. Equating Nixon’s little scandal with Stalin, or Chairman Mao, for that matter, who murdered more than Stalin and Hitler combined. Reduced to asking the Chinese communists for favors… Did we actually loose the cold war? We did contain something called “communism” didn’t we?
Oh, and United Nations? Their mandate to “police the world”? If I care… It’s a thoroughly corrupt and pointless organization that doesn’t stand for anything, just consumption some of my tax money (and some good real estate in New York).
So much for this site being a place of intelligent discourse concerning the topic in question. If these “let me preach to you my extremists/paranoid views of how the world works” continue I guess I’ll just have to add this bookmark to the same junk heap I put sci.space.*.
It all started going downhill here when that cosmic blog guy found this site.
i_s_s_alpha
It all started going downhill here when that cosmic blog guy found this site.
That’s funny!
You made my day
Thanks for posting here!
Interesting people posting interesting thoughts about space and politics on a space politics blog.
Who knew!
This is space “politics”, and Nixon, Stalin, well forget names… “politicians” are some of the goofiest powerhungry people you will meet. So why take this to an intelligence level above a politican? Politicians know what Hooters is. Many of them have dined in Hooters, and Hooters is in China now, along with Mickey D’s hamburgers. China started the ultrasocialist route, and when that floundered added a dab of capitalism. America floundered in the great depression and added new deal socialism, such as the 5-4 vote social security check guys 62 years old make sure they begin drawing before going back to work so they can double dip. Bush has outlawed protests near gravesites and spies on terrorists, and China does similar. Seems like we’ve come to the middle ground together, so why not celebrate and mate sister Shezhou with Apollo on steroids? What a match made in heaven.
What exactly are your proposals? What policies shall the US take?
What exactly are your proposals? What policies shall the US take?
Preferably a national policy where money is spent on international space and science cooperation, rather than weapons and war.
What we are confronted with, are ‘dumb rednecks’ in the west, and ‘ignorant lumberjacks’ in the east. That has to change, obviously.
Given that the discussion has taken a vulgar turn, I have deleted one particularly egregious comment and have closed comments for this post. My apologies to anyone interested in sincere discussion who is inconvenienced by this move.