From YaleGlobal:
For more than a decade, the US was a lone superpower in terms of economic, diplomatic and military might. But China has steadily stepped up to the challenge, demonstrating its intent to serve as a counterweight to US influence when it comes to global affairs. In the first of this series of articles about challenges to US-China relations, Joan Johnson-Freese, chair of the US Naval War College’s National Security Decision Making Department, analyzes the specter of an arms race in space thrown up by China’s recent destruction of a weather satellite. China was irresponsible in shooting down its own satellite, creating debris that can cause potential damage to other satellites for years to come, argues Johnson-Freese. But the move also demonstrated the vulnerability of any satellite and China’s firm intention to counter US control of space. Johnson-Freese urges both China and the US to renew cooperation on global matters and not engage in pointless bravado or a wasteful race to weaponize space. [Full Text]
