China News Service, Beijing, April 19 (Reporter Zhang Su) Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin hosted a regular press conference on April 19.
Reporter: According to reports, on April 18, US Vice President Harris announced during his visit to Vanderbilt Outer Space Force Base that the US would stop conducting helicopter tests of anti-satellite weapons and seek to promote the international community to establish responsible behavior in outer space. guidelines.
The White House website issued a statement on the same day emphasizing that the prohibition of helicopter anti-satellite tests should become an "international norm", and the statement also accused China and Russia of previous anti-satellite tests.
what opinions do the Chinese have on this issue?
Wang Wenbin: We have noted relevant reports.
The United States has long pursued a strategy of leading outer space, openly defining outer space as a "combat domain", and vigorously developing and deploying a variety of offensive outer space weapons such as directed energy and "anti-satellite communication systems" to this end, and comprehensively promote the construction and development of outer space forces. Prepare for battle.
The United States is the first country to carry out helicopter anti-satellite tests, and it is also the country that has carried out the largest number of such tests.
This time, the US announced to stop the test of ground-based helicopter anti-satellite weapons. What we want to ask is, why does the US not announce that it will not use such weapons at the same time?
Why didn't the US announce the cessation of anti-satellite tests such as space-based and common-orbit, and the anti-missile tests with an anti-satellite nature?
Why doesn't the US promise to prohibit the use of force against outer space objects?
China has always advocated the peaceful use of outer space, opposed the weaponization and arms race in outer space, and actively promoted the building of a community with a shared future for mankind in outer space.
As early as 2008, China and Russia jointly proposed a draft treaty on outer space control to the CD, which explicitly prohibits the deployment of weapons in outer space and the use or threat of use of force against outer space objects.
The draft treaty aims to eliminate threats to outer space security in a package through legally binding means, including kinetic energy anti-satellite tests, and fundamentally maintain the peace and security of outer space.
However, this initiative has been opposed by the United States for a long time.
We hope that the U.S. side can truly shoulder its due responsibilities as a major country, comprehensively review its own series of negative actions in the outer space field, stop the hypocritical practice of expanding unilateral military advantages under the pretext of arms control, stop blocking the negotiation process of legal documents on outer space control, and protect foreign countries. long-lasting peace and security in the air.
(Finish)