Posted on 01/19/2007 6:05:32 AM PST by Rb ver. 2.0
Britain has joined the US, Japan and Australia's condemnation of China after the communist country destroyed a satellite in space using a ballistic missile.
The British embassy in Beijing said it had raised the test, the first of its kind for 20 years, with the Chinese foreign ministry noting that the Government believed it was “inconsistent” with China’s opposition to the development of space weapons.
A spokesman refused to elaborate on the form the protest took or on the Chinese government’s response.
Later, a Downing Street spokesman said: "We are concerned about the impact of debris in space and we expressed that concern.
"We don't believe that this does contravene international law
"What we are concerned about however is lack of consultation and we believe that this development of this technology and the manner in which this test was conducted is inconsistent with the spirit of China's statements to the UN and other bodies on the military use of space."
The Chinese authorities have not confirmed a US report that it blew up one of its own aged weather satellites last Thursday with a ballistic missile fired from the Xichang space centre in Sichuan province.
There is stony silence on the subject in the Chinese media today as concern grows in the US and in the region about the prospect of an arms race in space.
If the test is confirmed, China will become the third country after the United States and the former Soviet Union to shoot down an object in space, indicating the Asian power could target satellites operated by other nations.
The United States, Japan, Australia and a host of other countries voiced concern on Friday .
Japan’s chief cabinet secretary, Yasuhisa Shiozaki, said his government had asked China for confirmation, and for an explanation of what its intentions were.
“We are concerned about it firstly from the point of view of peaceful use of space, and secondly from the safety perspective,” Mr Shiozaki said.
Gordon Johndroe, spokesman for the American National Security Council, said the US “believes China’s development and testing of such weapons is inconsistent with the spirit of co-operation that both countries aspire to in the civil space area”.
Alexander Downer, Australia's foreign minister, said his country did not want to see “some sort of spread, if you like, of an arms race into outer space”.
Taro Aso, the Japanese foreign minister, said the Chinese had sought to reassure Japan its intentions in space were of no threat to anyone.
“China consistently uses space only for peaceful purposes,” Mr Aso quoted the Chinese foreign ministry as saying.
The comments fit with the ruling Communist Party’s mantra in recent years that the nation’s rise as a world superpower should not be feared.
China joined the exclusive club of top space nations in 2003 when it sent up its first manned mission, joining the United States and Russia.
China spends 500 million dollars a year on its space programmes, according to official figures, while NASA’s proposed budget for 2007 is nearly 17 billion dollars.
But the United States has consistently deflected Chinese advances for closer cooperation on the two nations’ space programmes because of concerns about the involvement of China’s military.
A Chinese government defence paper released last month said that its defence expenditure had grown by more than 15 percent every year since 1990.
Hi! I could use a spa about now!
Well, we have one now, just so long as the Chinese don't blow it up again.
You were there?
Good for you!
Did you get to meet that fine soldier with the bull horn?
I watched the first part today, and I wanted to shake his hand.
Anyway, thank you for going, and for being a good person.
*Hugs*
I dunno about "just in time", but I am sure glad to be back home. And on the Internet. And on FR. And on the UT.
Got quite a backlog for the Traditional Anglican Ping List (heck, just to catch up for myself on what's been happening), but that can wait.
Not so sure about future travel: the company's cutting back on travel so they can put the money elsewhere and they wanted the department's projected travel plans and expenses. I was looking at almost a dozen known-in-advance trips this year but it could get cut to four or five, if I don't find a new job first and cut it all the way down to the one just completed.
After yesterday's trip home, which was just your average flying-in-steerage tedium, I'm ready to give up the bennies of international travel if I can give up all the rest at the same time.
Yes! We had two fine soldiers with us, including Josh. We were a small group, so we all hung out together. The moonbats were disgusting, as usual.
I haven't watched the video yet, my laptop is having trouble with the link. Maybe I'll try again.
Do I have a serious attitude problem or what? *\;-)
I'm at a loss for words as to what to say about that dispicable humnanoid. It's probably good I wasn't there, as I would have been tempted to throw a rotten tomato at her.
You'll have to give us some of the gory details...;o]
You're walking on water with that one.
Whew!!!
Made it with the ping this time.
How much do we tip the movers?
Perhaps telecommuting will solve the travel problem?
In view of the last year, I'd say you have a right to have an attitude problem. Travel, weather, travel, illness, nasty bosses, travel, vehicle problems...you go right ahead and complain!
Trip was good, mostly, thank you. Achieved much*, wore myself out (but not as much as usual), saw old friends in the industry.
(*As my predecessor observed, just about the time you learn the ropes and start accomplishing things your term is up and you're out. I have a bit under a year and a half left.)
It's really good,
It shows them for the moon bats they are!
http:
Shopping?
Sure!
Let's pick up one tonne of Mars rocks, and sell 'em on e bay.
I suggest at least one in each corner of the property, plus a couple distributed east-west outside blast range from the spa.
Buh bye now.
That's a beautiful shrubbery!
I guess James can't bring his penguin to this thread, since there's no troll. Un-fun for James!
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