Beijing Calls Space
Arms Race a 'Historic Inevitability'
"China's
air force will extend its reach from the sky to space, and from the defense of
Chinese territory to attack as well … This development is a historic inevitability
and cannot be reversed. There are no borders in the sky or in space. Only power
can protect peace."
BEIJING: PLA Air Force
Commander General Xu Qiliang has declared publicly for the first time China’s
plans to put weapons in space and add emphasis to the Air Force's offensive
capabilities. As the Chinese Air Force becomes increasingly self-confident, analysts
say that this signals a turning point in Beijing's military posture.
On Sunday, General Xu told
the PLA Daily that the Air Force would extend its reach “from the sky to
space, and from the defense of Chinese territory to attack as well.” He went on
to say that Beijing has decided to change its approach since, “China’s national
interests are expanding and the country has entered the Space Age.”
Breaking with what was the
official line that touts the peaceful use of outer space, Xu, 59, asserted that
it was imperative that China build its space capabilities since whoever
controls space will be the dominant power.
"Competition between
military forces is developing toward sky and space, beyond the atmosphere and
even into outer space. This development is a historic inevitability and cannot
be reversed,” he said. “There are no borders in the sky or in space. Only power
can protect peace. … We will improve our overall capability to strike long-distance
targets with high precision flight electronics and by using the Internet with back-up
assistance from space,” he added.
Assistant Professor Li
Mingjiang of the South Rajaratnam School of International Studies noted that while
China has been pursuing a military space program for quite some time, this is
the first time such a senior military official has openly announced it.
“In the past, the leadership always
declared that China wouldn't take the lead or even make a move toward weaponizing
space. This is the first high-level military announcement China has made - and
we are likely to see the trend continue,” Li said.
General Xu also indicated a
shift toward greater emphasis on "active defense," which includes a
proactive strategy to strike potential foreign threats. He told the PLA
Daily that commensurate with China’s growing economic and political
influence, the role of the Air Force must expand from exclusively protecting
national security to keeping peace in the region and around the world.
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“The militarisation of the sky and space is a challenge to the peace of mankind. In the face of this challenge, you don't have a voice unless you have power. Only if you have strong power can you protect and safeguard peace,” General Xu was quoted as saying. "As the air force of a peace-loving country, China must forge a sword and a shield capable of winning peace." He also pointed out that by the mid-21st century, China
will be a world power and its air force must be able to counter many types of
security threats.
According to Professor Li, Xu's
remarks are a, "turning point in China’s military posture.”
“China and its military are
increasingly self-confident and no longer attempt to conceal its intentions and
capabilities,” Li said.
In the past, China sought to
avoid being associated with superpower ambitions, abiding by late paramount
leader Deng Xiaoping’s doctrine to “bide one’s time and conceal one’s
intentions” when it comes to foreign policy.
Bu Professor Wang Xiangsui of
the Beijing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics emphasized that China’s
quest to build its air force isn't a signal that it aggressively aims to be a
military superpower.
Xu’s pledge to expand the air
force’s offensive and defensive capabilities is timed for the PLA Air Force's 60th
anniversary on November 11, and is aimed at a domestic audience, Professor Wang
said.
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The Chinese Air Force, which
will display its most advanced aircraft during anniversary celebrations, is
keen to impress the public with the progress it has made and raise its profile to
give it a better chance of competing for bigger budgets and better promotions against
other PLA units like the navy, analysts say.
“Regardless of the extent of its
development, the PLA Air Force will never pose a military threat to any country,”
Xu said.
