US space weapons move has ‘broken taboo’, could spark new arms race, Beijing forum told
The US deployment of space weapons has shattered a long-held taboo and risks igniting a fresh arms race, with the world at a “breaking point in history”, speakers at a major security conference in Beijing have warned. Experts at the Xiangshan Forum this week also called for US-China dialogue on space security, just days before Chinese President Xi Jinping makes his first state visit to the US in…
The US has deployed weapons in space, breaking a taboo that has held for decades. This move has raised concerns of a new arms race in space, with experts at a security conference in Beijing warning that the world now stands at a "breaking point in history." US Air Force Secretary Troy Meink confirmed on Tuesday that the Pentagon possesses space-based weapons capable of defending against hostile actions.
However, the specific systems involved were not disclosed. Experts at the Xiangshan Forum, a major security conference, called for US-China dialogue on space security, citing the breaking of a taboo regarding the deployment of conventional weapons in orbit. While the Outer Space Treaty does not prohibit the deployment of conventional weapons in space, it has become an unwritten rule against it.
The forum's director, Guo Xiaobing, emphasized that the taboo has now been broken, signaling a dangerous shift in US policy.
Written by urgent.news from South China Morning Post's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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