US says it deployed space weapons, China issues warning

China has cautioned against transforming outer space into a battlefield, with Russia insisting that it must remain free from any weapons. The United States, for the first time, has confirmed the deployment of armaments in orbit above Earth, sparking concerns of a weapons race in space. Analysts believe this revelation confirms an open secret, but the timing of the announcement could exacerbate tensions with China and risk a new arms race.

The US Space Force stated that its space control weapons are designed to defend the Joint Force against hostile actions. However, the agency did not disclose specifics about the nature of these weapons. China's foreign ministry condemned the move, warning against weaponization of space and an impending arms race. Russia echoed similar sentiments, urging the US to refrain from expanding military capabilities and preparing for war in outer space.

The US statement did not provide concrete details regarding the nature and quantity of the deployed weapons. Space control encompasses various mission areas, including kinetic and non-kinetic means to contest and control the space domain. Non-kinetic methods may involve lasers to blind satellites or electromagnetic or cyber jamming of data links.

For the US, China and Russia - its two primary geopolitical rivals - pose potential threats in space. China and Russia have been developing and operating space and counterspace capabilities as part of their military modernization strategies. The militarization of space is not new, dating back to the space race of the 1950s, when the US and Russia began exploring ways to arm and destroy satellites.

The militarization of space has been ongoing since the USSR launched Sputnik in 1957. In recent years, India also joined the ranks of space powers with its missile test in March 2019, destroying a low-orbiting satellite. Song Zhongping, a former Chinese army instructor and independent military commentator, noted that the US announcement was no surprise, as the existence of such weapons had long been an open secret. He cautioned that China would not remain passive and would take action if the US moves in that direction.

The Wall Street Journal reported that China supplied Iran with satellite imagery, enabling Tehran to target US military facilities in Jordan accurately. However, China denied these allegations. The biggest concern now lies in the proliferation of weapons in space beyond the Outer Space Treaty of 1967, which banned weapons of mass destruction in orbit.

Various countries, including Russia, the United States, China, and India, have explored ways to engage in space combat outside the treaty. A regulatory vacuum exists as Article 4 of the treaty only prohibits weapons of mass destruction and nuclear weapons in orbit. Space law experts predict that the topic will likely be discussed at the upcoming UN disarmament meeting in November.