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Chinese missile destroys satellite in space
The Telegraph ^ | 1/19/06 | Richard Spencer

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.


TOPICS: Extended News; Foreign Affairs; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: aaaaaaaazotaaaaaaaaa; allyurzotrbelong2us; arewethereyet; asat; china; clintonlegacy; fan; fearnotthezot; loral; margaritaville; missile; molassesmiasma; monkeyfacerules; nasa; penguinhumor; rbver20notgotthezot; satellite; saveurzots4nxtthread; sionnsar; taxchickgoesrunning; theundeadthread; undeadthreadfeb07; walmartsfriend; weareincontrol; wherewegoinbob
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To: Soaring Feather

No thanks...I was just there this morning. My feet are tired.


101 posted on 01/31/2007 5:14:11 PM PST by Monkey Face (Never understimate the power of stupid people in large groups.)
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To: Tax-chick

I hope the missile had a bell so the woman in the spa could get out before it hit...


102 posted on 01/31/2007 5:14:14 PM PST by rottndog (While reading this tag, remember Tens of Thousands of Americans are risking their lives for you.)
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To: fanfan
Okay! I want small ones only, I have so much stuff -it would be just too, much storing and shipping them to ebay costumers.
103 posted on 01/31/2007 5:14:57 PM PST by Soaring Feather (I Soar, cause I can....)
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To: Monkey Face

I understand totally. ;)


104 posted on 01/31/2007 5:15:38 PM PST by Soaring Feather (I Soar, cause I can....)
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To: Poser

It's OK, Poser...you're among FRiends, now!


105 posted on 01/31/2007 5:15:40 PM PST by Monkey Face (Never understimate the power of stupid people in large groups.)
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To: rottndog

Along with her towels and spa-type day-cor.

Maybe she heard the incoming whoooosh!


106 posted on 01/31/2007 5:16:47 PM PST by Tax-chick ("Hyperbolic rodomontade of the most puerile type." ~ Aaron Elkins)
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To: fanfan
Perhaps telecommuting will solve the travel problem?

No. I am involved with "net meetings" from time to time but some things still have to be done face-to-face.

107 posted on 01/31/2007 5:17:46 PM PST by sionnsar (†trad-anglican.faithweb.com†|Iran Azadi| 5yst3m 0wn3d - it's N0t Y0ur5 (SONY) | UN: Useless Nations)
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To: rottndog
How much do we tip the movers?

How much do you have? *\;-)

108 posted on 01/31/2007 5:18:20 PM PST by sionnsar (†trad-anglican.faithweb.com†|Iran Azadi| 5yst3m 0wn3d - it's N0t Y0ur5 (SONY) | UN: Useless Nations)
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To: Darksheare; Tax-chick; Monkey Face; SandyInSeattle; tuliptree76; FRiends

I dare you to resist.

;-)

109 posted on 01/31/2007 5:18:44 PM PST by fanfan ("We don't start fights my friends, but we finish them, and never leave until our work is done."PMSH)
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To: Monkey Face

It defied imagination.

There were about 40 of us with signs and American flags, and for some reason they found the existence of our little band to be a huge threat to the survival of the human race. Most just walked by, but many stopped and felt they had to shout us down.

Unwashed hippie types, of the "grandma" and "college" variety. They were like broken records, screaming the same phrases over and over no matter what we said. Their favorite was "ENLIST! ENLIST!" Never mind that most of us had.

Oh, and they were fond of screamng that we were a bunch of chickenhawk, warmongering, racist, homophobe scum. Or something like that. The capitol police didn't do their usual fine job; the moonbats were allowed to get behind us. It got a little dicey for awhile.


110 posted on 01/31/2007 5:19:43 PM PST by Not A Snowbird (Temporarily Posting from Washington DC)
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To: fanfan

Ahhhhhhh! Just what a slightly-crippled runner needs!


111 posted on 01/31/2007 5:19:47 PM PST by Tax-chick ("Hyperbolic rodomontade of the most puerile type." ~ Aaron Elkins)
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To: Tax-chick

This time next week, we're supposed to be in the 70's. It will last about a week, and then we'll have "winter" again.


112 posted on 01/31/2007 5:19:50 PM PST by Monkey Face (Never understimate the power of stupid people in large groups.)
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To: sionnsar
I have a bit under a year and a half left.

At which point you are assimilated by the Borg?

113 posted on 01/31/2007 5:20:12 PM PST by fanfan ("We don't start fights my friends, but we finish them, and never leave until our work is done."PMSH)
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To: Tax-chick

But... we NEED James and the penguin!


114 posted on 01/31/2007 5:20:17 PM PST by Not A Snowbird (Temporarily Posting from Washington DC)
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To: Tax-chick
Durst one say, "Incoming!"?


115 posted on 01/31/2007 5:20:22 PM PST by sionnsar (†trad-anglican.faithweb.com†|Iran Azadi| 5yst3m 0wn3d - it's N0t Y0ur5 (SONY) | UN: Useless Nations)
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To: sionnsar
I got 2 nickels, 3 dimes, a Sacajawea dollar (no one wants those), and a bent Canadian penny. Will that do?
116 posted on 01/31/2007 5:20:37 PM PST by rottndog (While reading this tag, remember Tens of Thousands of Americans are risking their lives for you.)
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To: fanfan

Who's taking appointments? Or is this a walk-in spa?


117 posted on 01/31/2007 5:23:33 PM PST by Not A Snowbird (Temporarily Posting from Washington DC)
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To: fanfan
"I have a bit under a year and a half left."
At which point you are assimilated by the Borg?

At which point I have either willingly undergone assimilation (two routes to same), or they will be in a position to "make my day," as a co-worker quotes.

118 posted on 01/31/2007 5:23:43 PM PST by sionnsar (†trad-anglican.faithweb.com†|Iran Azadi| 5yst3m 0wn3d - it's N0t Y0ur5 (SONY) | UN: Useless Nations)
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To: SandyInSeattle

I just ordered a T-shirt with the "HALP US JON CARRY.... WE ARE STUK IN IRAK" photo on the front. The back of course, is in support of our troops!

(And another extended family member is on levy, too.)


119 posted on 01/31/2007 5:23:49 PM PST by Monkey Face (Never understimate the power of stupid people in large groups.)
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To: sionnsar

Holy Smokes! It's an honor to be hijacked!


120 posted on 01/31/2007 5:24:41 PM PST by Rb ver. 2.0 (A Muslim soldier can never be loyal to a non-Muslim commander.)
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