China Calls for End to U.S. Space Weapons Deployment

China has spoken out against the United States over its decision to deploy weapons in space. The U.S. Space Force announced on September 14 that it had placed “on-orbit space control weapons” capable of defending against enemy actions, though details were not shared.

In response, China’s Foreign Ministry criticized the move, warning against turning outer space into a battlefield or an arena for an arms race. Spokesperson Guo Jiakun urged the U.S. to stop expanding its military capabilities in space and preparing for conflict there.

The U.S. pointed to China and Russia as key threats in its announcement, accusing them of developing space technologies that could be used for military purposes. This comes amid growing tensions between major powers over their space ambitions.

The idea of arming space is not new. Since the 1957 launch of Sputnik by the Soviet Union, both the U.S. and Russia have explored ways to arm and defend against spacecraft. The Outer Space Treaty of 1967 banned weapons of mass destruction in space but did not stop other forms of military activity.

Today, countries like the U.S., China, Russia, and India are working on ways to fight in space, such as targeting satellites used for communication, surveillance, and navigation. This has raised concerns about a potential arms race beyond Earth’s atmosphere.