The United States and China are stepping up the development of space weapons in a race to dominate the region outside the Earth's atmosphere.

The commander of the US Space Command, Air Force General John Raymond emphasized the threat of attacking important US satellites as "real".

"In my view, the scale, scope and complexity of this threat are very worrying," Raymond said at the Center for International and Strategic Studies on November 18.

The annual report of the US-China Economic and Security Assessment Committee (USSCC) warns that China wants to dominate the space between Earth and Moon in a strategy known as "the dream of conquering the universe." head ".

China plans to set up a permanent base on the Moon in a space program that combines military and trade, according to a USSCC report. In 2018, the Chinese Central Military General Staff Department set a goal to control space.

In a testimony before the US Senate Military Commission in June, General Raymond revealed for the first time that the Pentagon was developing new space weapons for both offensive and defensive operations. The 4-star general stressed that China and Russia are the main threats in space, so the US must quickly develop new arsenals, but did not give details.

Experts say the Pentagon is working on top secret space weapons development at several units, including the Space Development Agency and Kirtland Air Force Base in the state of New Mexico. Existing space weapons include rockets, electromagnetic jamming devices and laser weapons. The top-secret X-37B unmanned spacecraft is expected to play an important role in the US space arsenal.

Since the 1950s, presidents and Congress have blocked or restricted the development of space weapons due to concerns about the "militarization of the universe". However, in recent years, China and Russia have stepped up production and deployment of anti-satellite laser missiles and weapons.

According to a report by consulting organization RAND Corp, the US also has anti-satellite missiles. It was an ASM-135 rocket launched from an F-15 fighter jet, destroying an American satellite during a successful test in 1985. However, the program was canceled later that year. The US Air Force began developing a satellite jamming system in 2002 to prevent the risk of enemy surveillance, but two years later Congress stopped funding the program.

Still, the U.S. military has many dual-purpose missile and laser systems that can be upgraded into satellite-killing weapons. For example, the United States used an SM-3 interceptor missile, modified in 2008, to shoot down the satellite of the National Reconnaissance Agency (NRO) and prevent it from returning to the atmosphere, hitting a densely populated area. populate. The NRO is responsible for providing satellite images to the US government and other intelligence agencies. The US THAAD missile defense system is said to be capable of shooting down satellites. In addition, the US Navy has tested advanced medium-range infrared chemical laser weapons (MACLs) to shoot down drones and missiles. In the future, MACL can be used to destroy satellites.

The USSCC emphasizes that Chinese military strategists view space as a "commanding peak" to dominate in a situation of conflict. The Chinese military applies the principle of using weapons that can "destabilize space," according to the USSCC.

"China considers space as America's military and economic weakness. Therefore, Beijing is constantly developing weapons to target every American asset in space. However, the US China cannot be prevented from attacking hundreds of commercial and military satellites, its goal is to establish a leading position in both military and economic space. dream of conquering the universe, "USSCC noted.

Larry Wortzel, a former US military intelligence officer and USSCC member, views China as an equal competitor to the United States from military to commercial. "The PLA can lead the US military in developing weapons. If it has to act, China has an advantage because it only needs government approval. The US military must overcome a series of barriers from the law." Professor, National Security Council to the White House and parliament before acting, "Wortzel said.

Wortzel added that China is using its own BeiDou navigation system to replace GPS while promoting global economic cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative. "This is a big challenge for the US," said Mr. Wortzel.

In a letter to the US Military Commission, General Raymond warned: "China has become a leader in space with many weapons and our advantages are limited. The US military should have more budget to increase space weapons for both offensive and defensive purposes. "

Rick Fisher, an expert at the Center for Strategic and International Assessment, said the USSCC report reveals new details about China's strategic ambitions in space and the impact on US security. on the earth.

"The only way is to prevent China from controlling the Moon in the area between the Moon and the Earth," said Fisher.