China, Russia warn against ‘weaponisation’ of space after US confirms orbital weapons
China and Russia's warning came after the US Space Force confirmed that Washington has “on-orbit space control weapons” capable of defending US forces against hostile actions by adversaries.
On Tuesday, China and Russia cautioned against the weaponization and militarization of outer space following the United States' confirmation of deploying weapons in orbit. This move has raised concerns over an escalating military competition beyond Earth. China's Foreign Ministry urged the US to stop expanding its military capabilities in space, warning against turning outer space into a battlefield.
Russia echoed similar sentiments, emphasizing the need for broad international cooperation to maintain the demilitarization of space. The US Space Force, responsible for these on-orbit space control weapons, stated that they could disrupt, degrade, or destroy an adversary's space systems through both kinetic and non-kinetic methods.
These weapons are designed to protect US interests against perceived threats from China and Russia, both of which are developing space and counterspace military capabilities. The US acknowledgment of having weapons in orbit is seen as a direct counter to China's military modernization and perceived aggression in space. China and Russia have repeatedly expressed their opposition to the weaponization of outer space and the ongoing arms race in this domain.
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