Ministry of Foreign Affairs: We hope that relevant countries will stop issuing and implementing offensive military policies in outer space
On August 23rd, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin presided over a regular press conference. A reporter asked, according to foreign media reports, the European Union submitted a working paper to the United Nations Open Working Group on the Code of Conduct for Responsible Outer Space this week, announcing that all member states will join the United States' commitment to ban direct lift anti satellite missile testing. The document believes that commitments are an urgent measure to prevent the destruction of the outer space environment and contribute to preventing an arms race in outer space. What is China's comment on this?
"The Chinese side has taken note of relevant reports." Wang Wenbin pointed out that the commitment made by the United States only concerns the issue of destructive helicopter anti satellite missile testing, without mentioning the research and development, production, deployment, and use of such weapons, nor any other activities that threaten or disrupt the normal operation of satellites. In fact, after the United States conducted a helicopter anti satellite missile test in 2008, the US conducted multiple anti satellite missile test activities, developed directed energy anti satellite weapons, and deployed offensive weapons such as anti communication satellite systems. It can be seen from this that the relevant commitments made by the United States do not constitute a substantial limitation on the US military power in outer space. The actual purpose of the United States is to fake arms control and expand its military, attempting to maintain and expand unilateral military advantages through multilateral commitments.
Wang Wenbin stated that the current situation of outer space security is severe, and the momentum of arms race is intensifying. The root cause is not some kind of anti defense weapon test, but rather the United States seeking to lead outer space, openly declaring outer space as a combat territory, vigorously developing outer space military forces, building outer space military alliances, and provoking major powers to resist. The commitments made by the United States do not address real security threats in the field of outer space, neither addressing the symptoms nor addressing the root causes. The fundamental way to solve the issue of outer space security is to negotiate and reach a legal instrument on outer space arms control, which prohibits the deployment of weapons in outer space and the use or threat of use of force against outer space objects in a legally binding manner.
Wang Wenbin said that he hopes that relevant countries will carefully listen to the international community's call for peace in outer space, abandon the Cold War mentality, stop issuing and implementing offensive military policies in outer space, return to the track of negotiating legal documents on outer space arms control, and make practical efforts to maintain peace and stability in outer space.