But we can't really complain that a country intends to defend itself. If you were the Prime Minister of India wouldn't you want to be able to control the space above your head?
We can protest publicly when Iran openly develops nuclear weapons, but it's gonna sound real hollow to complain about this development.
BTW: Please do not construe my comments as a defense of the Red Chinese. I think we goofed big time when we declared the cold war over just because the Soviet Union collapsed. We should have stood by our guns and kept the pressure on the Chicoms.
We can protest publicly when Iran openly develops nuclear weapons, but it's gonna sound real hollow to complain about this development. Not quite. ASAT capability is very similar to nuclear weapons, in the sense that they can be either first-use or retaliatory. First use is clearly an act of war....
"Defensive use" is predicated on the theory that we or an ally have already, or are clearly about to attack them, or are a threat to attack them.
Since that's not likely, it seems more likely that this is meant to provide an offensive capability to be used as part of an initial strike. As a side benefit, it increases our space costs, probably significantly, because we now have to deal with the threat somehow.
BTW: Please do not construe my comments as a defense of the Red Chinese.
Didn't even cross my mind to do so....