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China's space development can pose military threat: Japan Tokyo (AFP) March 26, 2008 A Japanese defence ministry think-tank has warned that China's space programme could pose a military threat to other countries. The review, released on Thursday, also said China is likely to continue its space development programme "as a vital means of achieving military competitiveness against the United States." "The organisations engaged in China's space development have strong ties to the People's Liberation Army and a considerable number of its satellites are presumably intended for military purposes," the National Institute for Defence Studies said in an annual strategic review of East Asia. China launched a space probe in October as part of an ambitious exploration programme that has included successes with man-made satellites and manned space flights. The think-tank said the programme had the "effect of raising national prestige." It added that China's test in January last year to shoot down an object in space -- its own weather satellite -- had fueled military concerns. "Missiles can destroy not only US artificial satellites but also Japanese intelligence-gathering satellites," the review said. "The possibility has emerged that the cluster of satellites will come under a great threat when international tension heightens." Community Email This Article Comment On This Article Related Links The Chinese Space Program - News, Policy and Technology China News from SinoDaily.com
China To Use Jumbo Rocket For Delivery Of Lunar Rover, Space Station Beijing (XNA) Mar 13, 2008 A Chinese space expert said here on Tuesday that the Long March 5 large-thrust carrier rocket, currently under development and scheduled to be put into service in 2014, will be mainly used for the delivery of lunar rovers, large satellites and space stations. |
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