Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

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
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20 ... 121-140141-160161-180 ... 3,561-3,572 next last
To: sionnsar

Just out of curiosity, how many Undead Threads have hosts that didn't get the zot?


141 posted on 01/31/2007 5:41:13 PM PST by rottndog (While reading this tag, remember Tens of Thousands of Americans are risking their lives for you.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 131 | View Replies]

To: NicknamedBob; Rb ver. 2.0

He won a ticket to a free ride in the Flying Castle! What more can you want? We don't always welcome everyone...we sometimes get snubbed before the WELCOME mat settles.


142 posted on 01/31/2007 5:41:17 PM PST by Monkey Face (Never understimate the power of stupid people in large groups.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 136 | View Replies]

To: SandyInSeattle

143 posted on 01/31/2007 5:42:06 PM PST by Tax-chick ("Hyperbolic rodomontade of the most puerile type." ~ Aaron Elkins)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 114 | View Replies]

To: Monkey Face
..if a guy wears kilts, he's subject to seizure...;o]

What's under the kilt is fair game.....?
144 posted on 01/31/2007 5:42:36 PM PST by rottndog (While reading this tag, remember Tens of Thousands of Americans are risking their lives for you.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 134 | View Replies]

To: rottndog

Only two or three. The Admin Gods have been rather more merciless recently so the pickings have been slim.


145 posted on 01/31/2007 5:43:10 PM PST by sionnsar (†trad-anglican.faithweb.com†|Iran Azadi| 5yst3m 0wn3d - it's N0t Y0ur5 (SONY) | UN: Useless Nations)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 141 | View Replies]

To: rottndog

It depends on who's watching.


146 posted on 01/31/2007 5:43:13 PM PST by Monkey Face (Never understimate the power of stupid people in large groups.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 144 | View Replies]

To: Tax-chick

Whew! Thanks!


147 posted on 01/31/2007 5:43:29 PM PST by Not A Snowbird (Temporarily Posting from Washington DC)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 143 | View Replies]

To: sionnsar

Speaking of spas, it's time to fill mine again--good weather for it.


148 posted on 01/31/2007 5:44:10 PM PST by rottndog (While reading this tag, remember Tens of Thousands of Americans are risking their lives for you.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 137 | View Replies]

To: SandyInSeattle

Only fair, when you brought the tropical shrubbery.


149 posted on 01/31/2007 5:44:57 PM PST by Tax-chick ("Hyperbolic rodomontade of the most puerile type." ~ Aaron Elkins)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 147 | View Replies]

To: Monkey Face
He won a ticket to a free ride in the Flying Castle!

I wonder what the tax consequences are?
150 posted on 01/31/2007 5:45:28 PM PST by rottndog (While reading this tag, remember Tens of Thousands of Americans are risking their lives for you.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 142 | View Replies]

To: SandyInSeattle; Tax-chick; sionnsar; NicknamedBob; rottndog; Poser; Darksheare; FRiends

I'm out of here. I need to get my cute little self to bed.

See y'all tomorrow!


151 posted on 01/31/2007 5:46:09 PM PST by Monkey Face (Never understimate the power of stupid people in large groups.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 147 | View Replies]

To: Monkey Face

G'nite 'Face.


152 posted on 01/31/2007 5:46:43 PM PST by rottndog (While reading this tag, remember Tens of Thousands of Americans are risking their lives for you.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 151 | View Replies]

To: Tax-chick

Our tropical shrubbery is lacking a matching tree with a hammock stretched out between them.

I guess I'll have to work on that.


153 posted on 01/31/2007 5:47:06 PM PST by Not A Snowbird (Temporarily Posting from Washington DC)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 149 | View Replies]

To: rottndog; tuliptree76

I'm sure Dr. Ms. Tulip can tell you!

Ta!


154 posted on 01/31/2007 5:47:57 PM PST by Monkey Face (Never understimate the power of stupid people in large groups.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 150 | View Replies]

To: Monkey Face

Good night!


155 posted on 01/31/2007 5:48:28 PM PST by Not A Snowbird (Temporarily Posting from Washington DC)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 151 | View Replies]

To: fanfan
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...

Choice #3 isn't too bad... for a while.

Done contract work before; it's not really for me (I prefer spending all my time of the technical stuff). But my job search is cranking up and I'm beginning to find ways to conduct it while avoiding the dozens of contract-house-bait job websites plaguing the Seattle area.

I also learned a couple days ago about how my industry rarely enforces non-compete agreements. Need to digest this for a bit before I do anything.

156 posted on 01/31/2007 5:51:15 PM PST by sionnsar (†trad-anglican.faithweb.com†|Iran Azadi| 5yst3m 0wn3d - it's N0t Y0ur5 (SONY) | UN: Useless Nations)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 139 | View Replies]

To: SandyInSeattle

And a bar nearby.


157 posted on 01/31/2007 5:52:47 PM PST by Tax-chick ("Hyperbolic rodomontade of the most puerile type." ~ Aaron Elkins)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 153 | View Replies]

To: Tax-chick

Oh, for sure. With cabana boys to bring you fresh towels and drinks and...

SLAP!

I'm okay now.


158 posted on 01/31/2007 5:53:36 PM PST by Not A Snowbird (Temporarily Posting from Washington DC)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 157 | View Replies]

To: Monkey Face

159 posted on 01/31/2007 5:53:44 PM PST by monkapotamus
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 154 | View Replies]

To: SandyInSeattle

Reality bites.


160 posted on 01/31/2007 5:54:29 PM PST by Tax-chick ("Hyperbolic rodomontade of the most puerile type." ~ Aaron Elkins)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 158 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20 ... 121-140141-160161-180 ... 3,561-3,572 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson