IV-8 Question : China tested an anti-satellite missile in January 2007. Does this mean that China is ready to join the military competition in outer space? What is China's stance on this?

A: In January 2007, China conducted a space test, which was not targeting any country nor threatening any country. It didn't betray any related international treaties.

China has adhered to a policy of the peaceful use of space, and is opposed to the weaponization of space and military competition in outer space. It didn't, doesn't, and will not participate in any outer space competition in any form, and this stance isn't changing, and won't change in the future. China is willing to cooperate with specific countries on peacefully using outer space.

In recent years, China and many countries including Russia have actively pushed forward the Geneva Disarmament Conference, through which an international lawful document was signed to prevent weaponization of space and military competition in outer space. China suggested clearly forbidding military deployment in outer space on the conference. Besides, China also works together with UN members and has been supporting the UN General Assembly to pass resolutions on preventing military competition in outer space. It has been making efforts to prompt international communities to negotiate as early they can, so as to agree on prohibiting the weaponization of space and military competition in outer space. We believe that signing a treaty and related international lawful documents is the best way to prevent the weaponization of space and military competition in outer space.

(China.org.cn)