US Space Force Commander: "China and Russia Threaten Space Peace, Will Respond with Allies"

[Image source=EPA Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunwoo Lee] The commander of the U.S. Space Force publicly criticized China and Russia for militarizing space, turning the previously peaceful outer space into a battlefield and threatening peace. He emphasized plans to strengthen alliances to prevent military provocations by China and Russia in space.

On the 20th, U.S. Space Force Commander John Raymond said in an interview with Asahi Shimbun, "China and Russia have transformed outer space from a peaceful domain into a combat zone," adding, "Since 2007, China has conducted missile tests from the ground to destroy satellites, and Russia continues to develop and test weapons capable of intercepting satellites from the ground." He further stressed, "The United States will deter these countries' irresponsible actions and attacks through cooperation with its allies."

This is the first time Commander Raymond has accepted an interview request from Japanese media since taking office. Asahi Shimbun interpreted Raymond's remarks as emphasizing the need to check China and Russia while strengthening space security cooperation with allies such as Japan. Earlier, Raymond expressed his welcome for the Japanese government's revision of its Basic Space Plan last month after five years, which includes deploying numerous small satellites in space and plans for missile detection and tracking. He also expressed hope for close cooperation between the Japan Self-Defense Forces' Space Operations Squadron, launched in May, and the U.S. Space Force.

The U.S. government is building a satellite surveillance network in space to monitor various weapons, including hypersonic missiles that China and Russia could launch into space. In May, the U.S. Space Development Agency (SDA) announced plans to launch 20 satellites into low Earth orbit by 2022 and establish a satellite network system linking about 150 satellites by 2024. SpaceX, a U.S. private space company, plans to launch approximately 42,000 small satellites into space to build a wireless internet network called "Starlink," which is expected to be linked with the SDA's satellite surveillance network project.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.