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Confrontation or cooperation: US-China space relations
by Gentoku Toyoma
Monday, March 26, 2018
Landing on the Moon in 1969 was one of the greatest achievements in human history. This accomplishment was the result of the Space Race between the United States and the Soviet Union. Now, the United States endeavors to go to the Moon again.
Even during the Cold War, the United States and the Soviet Union cooperated in space. The United States can find ways to work with China.
This time, the United States should go to the Moon not based on competition but on cooperation. China’s space capabilities are improving rapidly and its space presence is expanding. Collaboration with China can bring financial and diplomatic benefit. Last December, the Trump Administration declared its intent to go back to the Moon and go beyond. To achieve this goal, international cooperation is necessary. To achieve this goal, the United States should travel to the Moon with China as a new partner.
While the United States has built trust and cooperation with many countries in space, so far it has not worked with China. The US space station program was originally designed in the context of Cold War. Eventually, the United States invited Russia to the International Space Station and deepened international cooperation in space. On the other hand, in 2011, a federal law prohibited NASA from working with China for national security reasons.
This prohibition should be eliminated and the United States should collaborate with China. Cooperation should proceed step by step. Even during the Cold War, the United States and the Soviet Union cooperated in space. The United States can find ways to work with China. As a first step, the United States should admit China to participate in the International Space Station.
The US human spaceflight program requires a great amount of money, and cooperation with China can contribute to reducing US costs. This February, the Trump Administration presented NASA’s budget request with a renewed emphasis on human spaceflight. Yet, in the long term, NASA’s budget will likely not significantly increase. It will be difficult to go back to the Moon if funding levels remain flat. China also aims to go to the Moon. If the United States works with China in the International Space Station program and other human spaceflight programs, they can share the financial burden. The United States can reduce its costs and accomplish its goal with less expenditure.
Suspicion can escalate confrontation, but trust can avoid an arms race. Last December, the US National Security Strategy classified China as “revisionist.” There are concerns that conflicts between the United States and China are inevitable in the near future. To avoid conflicts, increasing cooperation is beneficial for both countries. In fact, the US and Chinese governments already have a space dialogue. Taking a step to operational cooperation in space will be a good start to building more trust.
This time, the United States should lead the international space society and travel to the Moon and beyond together, with China as a new partner.
This cooperation benefits not only both countries but the whole of international space society. Nowadays, there are many problems in space policy: space debris, weaponization of space, and controversial international space law. To resolve these issues, international cooperation is essential. As the United States and China share more common interests in space, it will become easier for them to address international issues together.
There are security concerns that China would steal US space technology and develop its own capabilities. But this planned collaboration is in civil, not military, space operations. The United States would limit the exchange so as not to leak its advanced technology. Additionally, even if China keeps building its own space station after its participation in the ISS, its own station can be used to support the ISS. China has already developed its own space technology. Cooperation would not be a unilateral relationship, but one of mutual benefit.
It’s been 45 years since the United States last visited the Moon. Last time, the United States was alone, but since then many countries have improved their space technology. This time, the United States should lead the international space society and travel to the Moon and beyond together, with China as a new partner.
Gentoku Toyoma is a graduate student at the Space Policy Institute at George Washington University.
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While I support live and let live, I do not trust.
My understanding of the other, them, is that their history involves the conquest of their other, and the required submission of that other.
I do not believe that they can even properly process the notion of an "Other".
They and the Russians and the Socialists got firmly into bed with the notion of "The Blank Slate", and have suffered horrible agony for that mistake.
Should they wish to go to the Moon, then salutes. Just don't try to keep us away from it, or hell on Earth and in the heavens.
That's quite enough.
Done.
Last edited by Void (2018-03-26 21:14:05)
Done.
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Last December, the Trump Administration declared its intent to go back to the Moon and go beyond. To achieve this goal, international cooperation is necessary.
If it's necessary, then not only has America not advanced when it comes to space, it's actually gone backwards. International co-operation wasn't needed in the 60s.
"I'm gonna die surrounded by the biggest idiots in the galaxy." - If this forum was a Mars Colony
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China and now it would seem Russia boils down to a trust issue....I would rather see the nations united in space to no conflict and trusting rather than picking sides of whom gets to play red rover red rover who will come over or out goes y o u ...when it comes to space as its the one place that can benefit all of man kind...
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SpaceNut,
Given our history with China and Russia, I would say their governments are not to be trusted, but their people are not our enemies. They respond the same way we do to perceived threats. We don't allow other countries to deploy their military units along our borders, so why should we expect other countries to respond any differently? Poking them with what they perceive as a stick (our military) is not a good way to engender trust in us on their part. We should cooperate if we can, but we also have markedly different program goals.
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China's space station open for domestic and international scientists and engineers
https://news.cgtn.com/news/2022-03-10/Z … index.html
From the Blog or Desk of Donald Trump
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