NASA accuses China of "occupying the moon": a plan for a fixed base in cooperation with Russia

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian told a press briefing Monday that the United States should stop slandering China's space program.

This came in response to the statements of NASA President Bill Nelson in an interview with the newspaper "Bild", where he said that he fears that one day China will land on the moon and declare that it is "its private property."

"Some US officials constantly distort China's normal and rational space activities, stressing that the Chinese side firmly opposes such irresponsible statements," the Chinese diplomat said.

Zhao Lijian stressed that China has always advocated the peaceful use of outer space and opposed the militarization and arms race in outer space.

According to the newspaper, the south pole of the moon in particular is hotly disputed, as it is suspected that there are water deposits that could be used in the future to produce rocket fuel, meaning whoever controls the south side of the moon has an important base in space and possibly power.

"The Chinese space program is a military space program," said Bill Nelson, a former astronaut before entering politics, according to "spotnik", adding, "China is good.

But China is also good because it steals ideas and technology from others.”

While the newspaper notes that Beijing's plans go further: "China is planning its own lunar base - with Russia."

The Chinese lunar sounding program, called "Chang'e" after the heroine of ancient Chinese mythology, includes three phases: a flight around an Earth satellite, a landing on the moon and a return from the moon to Earth.

As part of the fourth phase of its lunar program in 2024, China plans to build a prototype lunar research station, which will consist of several probes in lunar orbit and on the lunar surface, and will be able to conduct scientific and technological research on Earth's natural satellite, as well as test technologies for the development and use of lunar resources.

NASA plans to return to the Moon in 2025, in close cooperation with the European Space Agency (ESA), whose phases will include the construction of a lunar orbit gateway station, a village, and a launch pad to Mars.

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