USA China Surges Ahead in the Military Space Race, US Warns of Shrinking Technological Lead

[Social Media]

 

China Surges Ahead in the Military Space Race, US Warns of Shrinking Technological Lead

 

China is rapidly transforming space into a battlefield, developing military capabilities at a pace that has alarmed top US defence officials. General Stephen Whiting, commander of the United States Space Force (USSF), has described China's advancements as “breathtakingly fast,” warning that the country’s ability to use space-based systems to complete its “kill chain”—the process of identifying, tracking, and destroying a target—has become “very concerning.”

 

The space arms race is intensifying between the world’s major powers, with the United States, China, and Russia all pouring resources into military space technology. While the US pursues initiatives like Donald Trump’s proposed “Golden Dome” missile defence system, China is pushing forward in three crucial areas: space-based targeting, anti-satellite weapons, and the fusion of space assets with conventional forces.

 

 

According to Gen Whiting, Beijing’s space-based targeting systems pose a direct threat to US and allied military forces, particularly in the Indo-Pacific. These systems enable China to “track and target US and allied forces,” supporting precision, long-range “over-the-horizon” strikes. General Anthony Mastalir, who oversees USSF operations in the Indo-Pacific, echoed this concern, saying that China’s ability to strike depends heavily on space-based technologies. “Space tech is how China closes its kill chain and strikes its targets with precision,” he said.

 

China’s space surveillance and reconnaissance capacity has grown dramatically. The USSF estimates that by the end of 2023, China operated over 500 satellites capable of intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR). Over the past ten years, the country has launched close to 900 satellites. In 2023 alone, China deployed 260 satellites, 67 of which had ISR capabilities. Earlier this year, Chinese scientists unveiled what they claim is the world’s most powerful satellite tracking camera, capable of capturing millimetre-level images from over 100 kilometres away.

 

Equally troubling to US officials is China's development of counter-space weapons designed to neutralise enemy satellites. These include reversible cyber-attacks, GPS and satellite communication jamming, high-energy lasers, direct-ascent anti-satellite (Da-Sat) missiles, and co-orbital ASATs—satellites that threaten other satellites in orbit. General Whiting explained that these systems are “an important part” of China’s growing space arsenal.

 

China demonstrated its capacity to destroy satellites as far back as 2008 and has since conducted multiple anti-satellite tests. In March, the USSF reported that Chinese satellites were executing complex, synchronised manoeuvres in orbit. General Michael A. Guetlein, deputy chief of US operations at the USSF, interpreted this as evidence that China is “practising tactics, techniques, and procedures to do on-orbit space operations from one satellite to another.”

 

Such systems are capable of launching kinetic kill vehicles, designed to destroy other satellites using sheer force, or even cause collisions. While this creates dangerous debris fields in orbit, other methods like jamming can quietly disable satellites without physical destruction. Jamming technology targets the communication link between satellites and their operators, rendering them inoperable. Experts have long warned that the US remains vulnerable to GPS jamming and “spoofing,” where signals are manipulated to mislead or shut down military operations. These disruptions could disable munitions, reroute drones, or cripple critical infrastructure.

 

The third area of concern, according to Gen Whiting, is China’s seamless integration of space assets into its broader military framework. He noted that through “space-enabled services,” China has made its army, air force, and navy “more lethal, more precise and more far-ranging.” A major military overhaul in 2016 saw the creation of a military aerospace unit within the People’s Liberation Army’s Strategic Support Force. In April 2024, this structure evolved further, dividing into three branches: an aerospace force, a cyberspace army, and an information support arm, highlighting the strategic value of space in modern warfare.

 

Despite the US having roughly 8,000 satellites in orbit—compared to China's 1,000—both nations are estimated to operate around 250 military satellites. General Guetlein remarked, “There used to be a significant capability gap between the United States and our adversaries, driven by our technological advantage. That gap, once massive, has narrowed considerably. If we don’t change our approach to space operations, we risk seeing that gap reverse, putting us at a disadvantage.”

 

The United States’ answer to this challenge is the $175 billion “Golden Dome” project, a space-based missile defence system expected to be operational by 2029. Designed to detect, track, and destroy incoming missiles, this network would primarily shield the US homeland. However, in a hypothetical conflict with China—such as one involving Taiwan—Washington could find itself not only outgunned on the ground but outmanoeuvred in space.

 

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from CNN  2025-06-28

 

 

 

[DarthChuckler]

9 hours ago, Social Media said:

 

China Surges Ahead in the Military Space Race, US Warns of Shrinking Technological Lead

 

China is rapidly transforming space into a battlefield, developing military capabilities at a pace that has alarmed top US defence officials. General Stephen Whiting, commander of the United States Space Force (USSF), has described China's advancements as “breathtakingly fast,” warning that the country’s ability to use space-based systems to complete its “kill chain”—the process of identifying, tracking, and destroying a target—has become “very concerning.”

 

The space arms race is intensifying between the world’s major powers, with the United States, China, and Russia all pouring resources into military space technology. While the US pursues initiatives like Donald Trump’s proposed “Golden Dome” missile defence system, China is pushing forward in three crucial areas: space-based targeting, anti-satellite weapons, and the fusion of space assets with conventional forces.

 

 

According to Gen Whiting, Beijing’s space-based targeting systems pose a direct threat to US and allied military forces, particularly in the Indo-Pacific. These systems enable China to “track and target US and allied forces,” supporting precision, long-range “over-the-horizon” strikes. General Anthony Mastalir, who oversees USSF operations in the Indo-Pacific, echoed this concern, saying that China’s ability to strike depends heavily on space-based technologies. “Space tech is how China closes its kill chain and strikes its targets with precision,” he said.

 

China’s space surveillance and reconnaissance capacity has grown dramatically. The USSF estimates that by the end of 2023, China operated over 500 satellites capable of intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR). Over the past ten years, the country has launched close to 900 satellites. In 2023 alone, China deployed 260 satellites, 67 of which had ISR capabilities. Earlier this year, Chinese scientists unveiled what they claim is the world’s most powerful satellite tracking camera, capable of capturing millimetre-level images from over 100 kilometres away.

 

Equally troubling to US officials is China's development of counter-space weapons designed to neutralise enemy satellites. These include reversible cyber-attacks, GPS and satellite communication jamming, high-energy lasers, direct-ascent anti-satellite (Da-Sat) missiles, and co-orbital ASATs—satellites that threaten other satellites in orbit. General Whiting explained that these systems are “an important part” of China’s growing space arsenal.

 

China demonstrated its capacity to destroy satellites as far back as 2008 and has since conducted multiple anti-satellite tests. In March, the USSF reported that Chinese satellites were executing complex, synchronised manoeuvres in orbit. General Michael A. Guetlein, deputy chief of US operations at the USSF, interpreted this as evidence that China is “practising tactics, techniques, and procedures to do on-orbit space operations from one satellite to another.”

 

Such systems are capable of launching kinetic kill vehicles, designed to destroy other satellites using sheer force, or even cause collisions. While this creates dangerous debris fields in orbit, other methods like jamming can quietly disable satellites without physical destruction. Jamming technology targets the communication link between satellites and their operators, rendering them inoperable. Experts have long warned that the US remains vulnerable to GPS jamming and “spoofing,” where signals are manipulated to mislead or shut down military operations. These disruptions could disable munitions, reroute drones, or cripple critical infrastructure.

 

The third area of concern, according to Gen Whiting, is China’s seamless integration of space assets into its broader military framework. He noted that through “space-enabled services,” China has made its army, air force, and navy “more lethal, more precise and more far-ranging.” A major military overhaul in 2016 saw the creation of a military aerospace unit within the People’s Liberation Army’s Strategic Support Force. In April 2024, this structure evolved further, dividing into three branches: an aerospace force, a cyberspace army, and an information support arm, highlighting the strategic value of space in modern warfare.

 

Despite the US having roughly 8,000 satellites in orbit—compared to China's 1,000—both nations are estimated to operate around 250 military satellites. General Guetlein remarked, “There used to be a significant capability gap between the United States and our adversaries, driven by our technological advantage. That gap, once massive, has narrowed considerably. If we don’t change our approach to space operations, we risk seeing that gap reverse, putting us at a disadvantage.”

 

The United States’ answer to this challenge is the $175 billion “Golden Dome” project, a space-based missile defence system expected to be operational by 2029. Designed to detect, track, and destroy incoming missiles, this network would primarily shield the US homeland. However, in a hypothetical conflict with China—such as one involving Taiwan—Washington could find itself not only outgunned on the ground but outmanoeuvred in space.

 

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from CNN  2025-06-28

 

 

 

Duh. Trash the education system, trash the immigrants working and helping high tech, outsource all the knowledge,,  yup USA is on the way to the trash heap.

[candide]

There is little doubt that China will dominate. The only question is "when"?

[FlorC]

10 hours ago, Social Media said:

Such systems are capable of launching kinetic kill vehicles, designed to destroy other satellites using sheer force, or even cause collisions. While this creates dangerous debris fields in orbit,

Maybe that is a good thing. 

The domino effect of destroying all satellites with added bonus that mankind can't get to space anymore.

No more spying from satellites and no space based weapons.

[WDSmart]

I'm not in favor of any country spending its time and resources on the "space race." We should utilize all those resources to figure out how to stop and address the environmental problems we've created here on Earth.

[digger70]

China Surges Ahead in the Military Space Race, US Warns of Shrinking Technological Lead 

 

Instead of wasting Billions/Trillions on this Space War Race  .

There's no need for this (Accept a Power Race,) They have  enough war infrastructure without going UP There.

Use that money for the needy people in ones country  They need this Badly

Homeless people /Not Illegal Immigrants asylum seekers. Pensioners/underprivileged , some jobless people, War veterans, Disabled people.

[jingjai9]

It looks like Trump is attempting to dismantle the US university system, the heart of research in the States. Also, by giving a swift kick in the groin to the government bureacracy certainly can't help American stability and progress moving forward.

There is always room for saving money and efficiency in government. Maybe some critics are accurate when they say Donald Trump is not capable of linear thinking and he is quite transactional with his leadership. Do we have a bad driver on a righteous path?

I am not a Trump hater but whatever legitimacy people find in Trump and his followers'  goals to change the government and cut out the "Nanny State" and keep the criminal element from entering the US may be admirable; however, you must consider that perhaps Trump is NOT the best person to lead this movement. He seems to undermine his goals by constantly using negative remarks laced with superlatives. When he mentioned the US and God during his announcement on the bombing or Iran, he may have sounded to others around the world  as extreme as radical Imams speaking of their attacks on infidels. This kind of rhetoric does not make the world more peaceful. 

Certainly somebody could lead this neo liberal movement without trying to slaughter every critic who speaks up. This is why many people view him as anti democratic.

[spidermike007]

Trump's election and his behavior during the first 5 months of his administration has been an absolute wet dream for China, Trump is increasing China's influence by the day, he is driving many nations towards China and away from the US, he's diminishing American influence, diminishing the dollar, diminishing trade and he will likely cause a great deal of inflation and economic destruction while China builds and moves forward in their advancements. 

 

Donald Trump. Making America less relevant.