US Hits Out At Beijing Over Space Warfare

The US on Tuesday accused Russia and China of raising the risk of conflict in space, notably by developing anti-satellite weapons, as diplomats held talks on a treaty to keep space peaceful.

The closed-door negotiations in Geneva involving experts from 25 governments – including the US, China and Russia – are aimed at laying the groundwork for a legally-binding text to prevent an arms race in outer space.

Beijing and Moscow pushed for the discussions that run until March 28, which experts have said may show results despite the grim climate for disarmament diplomacy.

But addressing the United Nations Conference on Disarmament, US assistant secretary of state Yleem Poblete questioned whether China and Russia were sincerely committed to the talks.

Poblete accused Beijing of developing a range of anti-satellite capabilities, including jammers and ground-based missiles intended to target "low-Earth-orbit satellites".

Given that, "it is difficult to determine the truthfulness of China's concern about the prevention of an arms race in space," she said.

US President Donald Trump has called for the creation of a new military branch devoted exclusively to space, with the Pentagon submitting a proposal to Congress earlier this month.

Trump's "Space Force" call and his declaration that Washington considered space a "war-fighting domain," has raised widespread concern.

But experts have noted that the three major powers have a lot to lose if the negotiations collapse, given the increasing importance of satellite technology in both civilian and military affairs. (AFP)