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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: rottndog
History of Free Republic

Does it include all the unjustified bannings?

:-P

301 posted on 02/02/2007 10:58:42 AM PST by Irish_Thatcherite (Apathy is one of the most dangerous ideologies in existance!)
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To: tuliptree76; rottndog

302 posted on 02/02/2007 11:16:59 AM PST by Lady Jag (A positive attitude will annoy enough people to make it worth the effort.)
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To: Irish_Thatcherite; jimrob

Actually, I think JimRob and FreeRepublic should have a virtual graveyard for bannees and ZOTees.


303 posted on 02/02/2007 12:27:15 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: rottndog

Howya! We've had a thaw here, 40's today and same forecast for tomorrow. It could be much worse!


304 posted on 02/02/2007 1:04:05 PM PST by Tax-chick ("Hyperbolic rodomontade of the most puerile type." ~ Aaron Elkins)
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To: Tax-chick

It's 58 in the office here...cold for me is when I have to wear pants to work...been wearing pants for a couple of months now. It's supposed to be in the 70s this weekend.


305 posted on 02/02/2007 1:18:10 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: rottndog

Long pants probably look better with your necktie than shorts do.


306 posted on 02/02/2007 1:25:44 PM PST by Professional Engineer (Barbaro dead? Big Macs for everyone!)
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To: Professional Engineer

What's a necktie?


307 posted on 02/02/2007 1:29:54 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: rottndog

Napkin noose


308 posted on 02/02/2007 1:42:11 PM PST by Professional Engineer (Barbaro dead? Big Macs for everyone!)
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To: rottndog

Brrr. I keep our thermostat at 66, so we're always cold in the house.


309 posted on 02/02/2007 1:59:37 PM PST by Tax-chick ("Hyperbolic rodomontade of the most puerile type." ~ Aaron Elkins)
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To: Tax-chick; Monkey Face; rottndog; Professional Engineer; tuliptree76; Irish_Thatcherite; ...

A six-year-old boy told his father he wanted to marry the little girl across the street. The father, being modern and well-schooled in handling children, hid his smile behind his hand.

“That's a serious step,” he said. “Have you thought it out completely?”
“Yes,” his young son answered. “We can spend one week in my room and the next in hers. It's right across the street, so I can run home if I get scared of the dark.”

“How about transportation?” the father asked.
“I have my wagon, and we both have our tricycles,” the little boy answered.

The boy had an answer to every question the father raised.

Finally, in exasperation, his dad asked, “What about babies? When you're married, you're liable to have babies, you know.”
“We've thought about that, too,” the little boy replied.
“We're not going to have babies. Every time she lays an egg, I'm going to step on it!”


310 posted on 02/02/2007 2:12:28 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: rottndog

Maybe... but seperate genuine posters from trolls?


311 posted on 02/02/2007 2:27:31 PM PST by Irish_Thatcherite (Apathy is one of the most dangerous ideologies in existance!)
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To: fanfan

312 posted on 02/02/2007 2:30:16 PM PST by Irish_Thatcherite (Apathy is one of the most dangerous ideologies in existance!)
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To: Irish_Thatcherite
Howya!

SmileyCentral.com

313 posted on 02/02/2007 2:33:45 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: fanfan

Howya fan, h'eh?

:)


314 posted on 02/02/2007 2:43:17 PM PST by Irish_Thatcherite (Apathy is one of the most dangerous ideologies in existance!)
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To: Irish_Thatcherite

Heading home.

See ya later.

:-)


315 posted on 02/02/2007 2:51:54 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: fanfan; Tax-chick; Monkey Face; rottndog; Professional Engineer; tuliptree76; Irish_Thatcherite
Turn your thermostats up!

 

 

IT IS GOOD TO BE A WOMAN:

 

» We got off the Titanic first.

» We can scare male bosses with mysterious gynecological disorder excuses.

» Taxis stop for us.

» We don't look like a frog in a blender when dancing.

» No fashion faux pas we make could ever rival the Speedo.

» We don't have to pass gas to amuse ourselves.

» If we forget to shave, no one has to know.

» We can congratulate our teammate without ever touching her rear.

» We never have to reach down every so often to make sure our privates are     

  still there.

» We have the ability to dress ourselves.

» We can talk to people of the opposite sex without having to picture them

  naked.

» If we marry someone 20 years younger, we're aware that we look like an   

  idiot.

» There are times when chocolate really can solve all your problems.

» We'll never regret piercing our ears.

 

 

 


316 posted on 02/02/2007 2:57:33 PM PST by Lady Jag (A positive attitude will annoy enough people to make it worth the effort.)
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To: Rb ver. 2.0

Sure would be nice if we had Ronald's Ray-Gun.


317 posted on 02/02/2007 3:00:34 PM PST by JamminJAY (This space for rent)
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To: fanfan
We're in a spa this month? Cool!

I'll have the salt and olive oil scrub, followed by the sea weed wrap and then I want to be gently steamed for a half hour and then....

Hmmmmm.... well I am sure I will come up with something!

318 posted on 02/02/2007 3:01:17 PM PST by Harmless Teddy Bear (I am the Cat who Walks by Himself and all places are alike to me!)
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To: Lady Jag

Funny... in a misinformed-about-human-males sorta way! ;)


319 posted on 02/02/2007 3:04:11 PM PST by Irish_Thatcherite (Apathy is one of the most dangerous ideologies in existance!)
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To: Lady Jag
IT'S GOOD TO BE A MAN ...
320 posted on 02/02/2007 3:04:29 PM PST by Dead Corpse (Anyone who needs to be persuaded to be free, doesn't deserve to be.)
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