China Expresses Concern Over U.S. Plan To Shoot Down A Faulty Spy Satellite

Team Infidel

Forum Spin Doctor
New York Times
February 19, 2008
Pg. 10
By David Lague
BEIJING — In response to a United States plan to shoot down a malfunctioning spy satellite, China has warned against threats to security in outer space, without mentioning its own successful anti-satellite missile test last year.
The Chinese government also stopped short of linking the planned American strike with Beijing’s repeated calls for a complete ban on space weapons.
A Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman, Liu Jianchao, said the Chinese government was concerned about the American plan, Xinhua, the state-run news agency, reported late Sunday, noting that the target satellite was loaded with toxic fuel.
Mr. Liu urged Washington to fulfill its international obligations and avoid threatening security in space and the security of other countries, Xinhua quoted him as saying, without elaborating.
“Relevant departments of China are closely watching the situation and working out preventative measures,” Mr. Liu said.
Security analysts have suggested that Beijing could use the planned American interception to justify the Chinese military’s unannounced destruction of a defunct weather satellite in January 2007.
That interception drew criticism from senior American military officials, who complained that it had left a cloud of debris that was dangerous to other space traffic. Chinese experts in turn have questioned the Pentagon’s explanation that it wants to destroy the spy satellite before it tumbles to Earth to avoid contamination from hazardous fuel on board.
“In my opinion, this decision is imprudent and ill advised,” said Li Bin, an arms control specialist at Tsinghua University in Beijing. “If this satellite is shot down, the toxic fuel will still be there. Therefore, the pollution still exists.”
But, Mr. Li said, destroying the satellite would be an effective way to prevent its technology from falling into the wrong hands.
Just days after China and Russia renewed their call for a global ban on space weapons at a disarmament conference, the United States announced late last week that it was preparing to fire a missile at the crippled reconnaissance satellite by the middle of next week during one of its passes over the Pacific.
The United States opposes treaties or other measures to restrict space weapons.
In what will be a challenging test of antiballistic missile technology, the interceptor will be fired from an American warship just before the satellite is expected to plunge uncontrollably back to earth.
The Pentagon said President Bush had ordered the mission to prevent possible contamination of inhabited areas. It said the interception was not a weapons test or a demonstration for potential adversaries.
Yuan Xi contributed.
 
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