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 Chinas opposition to the development of space weapons.
A spokesman refused to elaborate on the form the protest took or on the Chinese governments 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 .
Japans 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 Chinas 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 Partys mantra in recent years that the nations 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 NASAs 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 Chinas 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.
You are now one of the select few which will live in infamy...
This thread has been hi-jacked by the BEST! Sionnsar is very discerning!
Look before you leap!
Howya, Rb! Got plenty of bread and milk?
Heh. Beginning my return trip I tipped the taxi driver with a Sacajawea dollar and a Susie B dollar I got spammed with as change when I bought a light-rail ticket Saturday.
He was happy to receive the coins, I was happy to divest myself of them (for credit on my expense report even).
Not touching *that* line.
Not in public. *\;-)
*whispers*
(You're not wearing your kilts again, are you?)
*snicker*
It's on me!
;-D
The problem's not the kilt, it's what's underneath...
Infamy? Not at all! We do sometimes wander off the reservation and hijack non-Zot threads. "Rb" will live on in fame here for the wonderfully welcoming, warm (and wet) home prepared for us -- even if we have to dodge the occasional missile...
INCOMING...!
You're a real FRiend :-).
(In a spa? Are you peeking? *\;-)
I've never had a problem with what's underneath...if a guy wears kilts, he's subject to seizure...;o]
A walk in spa,...good marketing idea!
Good night y'all.
:-)
You have become an honorary inductee into our fellowship.
This entitles you to uh, ... it entitles you to ... hmm.
Tell him what he's won, Johnny!
Shoes.
Shoes and spas don't mix.
Spats and spas don't mix either.
'Night!
XO
3 choices and they're all bad?
How about the 4th choice of offering your services and experience to the world for a fee?
Work at your own schedule...
Only contribute to those projects you judge to be worthwhile.
Enjoy your knowledge.
Good night.
:-)
Good night, fanfan!
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