Theft and Copying Keeps China’s Space Ambitions Behind

China’s space force may be doomed to lag behind those of other powers, such as the U.S. and Russia, because its research and development is largely limited to what Chinese industry can steal or copy from outside its borders.

China's first female astronaut Liu Yang (L) together with two male colleagues at the Jiuquan space base, north China's Gansu province, on June 15, 2012. A recent report published U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission analyzes China's space programs, and "how they advance China’s national security, economic, and diplomatic interests." STR/AFP/GettyImages

The Chinese communist regime’s space program, run by and for the People’s Liberation Army, focuses on weapons that aim to disable and decapitate the defensive capabilities of potential adversaries, including the United States.

Despite high-altitude dreams, China’s space force may be doomed to lag behind those of other powers, such as the U.S. and Russia, because its research and development is largely limited to what Chinese industry can steal or copy from outside its borders.

These findings and others were outlined in a report published on March 2 by the U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission titled “China Dream, Space Dream.” The report reviews and analyzes China’s space programs, and “how they advance China’s national security, economic, and diplomatic interests.”

‘Assassin’s Maces’

According to the report, “the use of space power can facilitate long-range strikes, guided munitions, improved connectivity, and greater jointness across its armed forces.”

It has long been known that the Chinese space program plays a major role in the communist regime’s modern military planning.  

Chinese military planners are deeply focused on neutralizing U.S. space capabilities

— IGCC Report, University of California