China Warns U.S. Golden Dome Could Spark an Outer Space Arms Race
Chinese officials warn that U.S. push for space-based weapons may trigger a new arms race in orbit.
China has issued a stern warning regarding the United States' advancement of the so-called "Golden Dome" system and related initiatives to deploy weapons in outer space, cautioning that such developments sharply increase the likelihood of an arms race beyond Earth's atmosphere. The remarks were delivered on Thursday by Zhang Xiaogang, spokesperson for China's Ministry of National Defense, during a press conference in Beijing.
Zhang Xiaogang firmly denounced the U.S.'s space military activities, emphasizing that these actions are in clear violation of the principles outlined in the Outer Space Treaty. "The U.S. actions will once again open the Pandora's box," he stated, underscoring concerns that deploying offensive or defensive systems in orbit could set off a new era of strategic competition and instability among major powers.
"This proves again that no country has done more than the United States in militarizing the space and making it a battlefield," Zhang contended, highlighting what he described as a historical pattern of U.S. actions accelerating the transformation of space into a theater for conflict. The Golden Dome system, details of which remain classified, is believed to be a comprehensive space-based defense shield with both detection and interception capabilities.
Calling for restraint, Zhang urged the United States to halt its ongoing military expansion in space and instead engage in diplomatic efforts to safeguard global strategic stability. "China urges the U.S. side to stop expanding its military build-up in space and to take concrete actions to uphold global strategic stability," he reiterated, warning that a continued arms race in orbit would have serious repercussions for all nations and for the long-term security of outer space.
The escalating rhetoric reflects growing international concern over the future of space security, as major powers increasingly view the domain as critical to their national interests. Many experts believe that multilateral dialogue and new agreements are urgently needed to prevent space from becoming the next frontier of militarized conflict.
