US space weapons move has ‘broken taboo’, could spark new arms race, Beijing forum told

The deployment of space weapons by the US has shattered a decades-old taboo and could lead to a new arms race, with world leaders warning of a "breaking point in history". This revelation comes just days before Chinese President Xi Jinping's first state visit to the US in over a decade. US Air Force Secretary Troy Meink confirmed for the first time that the Pentagon has deployed space weapons, stating that they are capable of defending against hostile actions.

However, the weapons are not yet identified. Experts warned that these weapons may be jammers or spoofers, which are non-kinetic technologies, and not kinetic weapons that would violate international treaties. The Outer Space Treaty, which governs space activities, does not prohibit conventional weapons but it has become customary to avoid their deployment.

The deployment of space weapons has been seen as a violation of this taboo, marking a significant shift in traditional US policy. Experts argue that the ambiguity in space terminology has fueled rising competition between countries, and that the implications of this move could be severe, potentially sparking a new arms race in space.