China and Russia Agree to Build Joint Base on the Moon... Competition with the US in Lunar Exploration

US NASA Moon Exploration Program Criticized as 'Political'
Clear Confrontation Emerging Between China-Russia and US-Japan-EU-India

[Image source=EPA Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunwoo Lee] As China and Russia have reportedly agreed to establish a joint research base on the Moon, competition with the United States' lunar exploration project is expected to intensify. Previously, Russia declined an invitation from the U.S. to participate in its lunar exploration project, the Artemis program. The U.S. is cooperating with allies such as Japan, the European Union (EU), the United Kingdom, and India, leading to a clearer confrontation with China and Russia.

According to Russia's TASS news agency, on the 24th (local time), Dmitry Rogozin, head of the Russian Federal Space Agency (ROSCOSMOS), stated on Russia's internet broadcast channel, "Recently, together with Zhang Kejian, director of the China National Space Administration (CNSA), we agreed that Russia and China will jointly establish a research base on the Moon," adding, "Despite numerous challenges this year, China has persistently led space development."

Earlier, on the 15th, Rogozin expressed opposition to the U.S. invitation to participate in NASA's lunar exploration Artemis program, saying, "The Artemis program is overly political, and the countries involved regard it as similar to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)." He further stated, "We have other projects of interest, which involve constructing a research base at the Moon's south pole," indicating cooperation with China, which was preparing to build the research base.

Since 2011, the U.S. has purchased rockets from Russia for nine years for satellite launches and all space development projects, and the two countries have continued to cooperate in space development. However, at the end of May, the Donald Trump administration ended space cooperation with Russia and sent a manned spacecraft from the U.S. company SpaceX to the space station, bringing competition to the surface. The U.S. Artemis program includes participation from U.S. allies such as Japan, the EU, Canada, the United Kingdom, Israel, and Australia.

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