China Says No More Satellite-Killer Tests

SPACEWAR

by Staff Writers
Tokyo (AFP) Feb 13, 2007
China does not plan another anti-satellite test, its defence minister was quoted as saying Monday, a month after Beijing became the third country to shoot down an object in space. National Defence Minister Cao Gangchuan also repeated that China had no hostile intent in carrying out the satellite-killer test, said Japan's former defence chief Fukushiro Nukaga, who met with him in Beijing.

"China conducted a scientific and technical experiment," Nukaga quoted Cao as saying, according to Kyodo News.

"It is not targeted at any country and is not a threat to any country. We do not plan further tests," Cao was quoted as adding.

China on January 11 destroyed one of its own orbiting weather satellites in space with a ballistic missile, acknowledging the test nearly two weeks later after it provoked an international outcry.

The only other countries to carry out such "Star Wars" experiments were the United States and the former Soviet Union, which entered a moratorium in 1985 amid concern over debris in space.

The Chinese test triggered condemnation worldwide, including from the United States and Japan, which both have spy satellites in space.

China had earlier pressed the United States for a permanent ban on satellite-killer tests.

Source: Agence France-Presse

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China Says Anti Satellite Test Did Not Break Rules

Beijing, China (SPX) Feb 12, 2007
The Foreign Ministry said yesterday that China's recent outer space test was not in violation of any international rules. "The experiment was not directed at any country nor did it pose any threat to any country," said Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu. She reiterated that China is opposed to the weaponization of outer space or an arms race.

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