US, China arm for space warfare, raising stakes in race for military control of orbit

The United States and China are rapidly developing military capabilities in space, escalating concerns about potential conflict in orbit. Both nations operate secretive, unmanned spaceplanes and are advancing technologies for space warfare, including satellites designed to pursue, capture, or disrupt other spacecraft. US Space Force Chief of Space Operations General Chance Saltzman stated, "The Chinese are rapidly developing capabilities," including ground- and space-based weapons. Satellites, now considered active weapons platforms, are crucial for modern warfare, providing communications, navigation, and intelligence, but also capable of launching attacks.

• In June, a Chinese spaceplane released a small satellite that maneuvered around another Chinese satellite before returning, mirroring US military spaceplane operations.
• In September last year, the US and Britain conducted their first joint military operation in space, directing a US satellite close to a UK satellite as a suspected Chinese spy satellite passed beneath them, a move interpreted as a strategic signal to Beijing.
• China's foreign ministry maintains its opposition to the weaponization of space, advocating for peaceful use, while accusing Washington of fueling an arms race.
• The US Space Force is also developing earthbound electromagnetic weapons to disable or disrupt adversary satellites, and both the US and China are demonstrating advanced orbital maneuvers, including what US officials describe as "dogfighting" and attempts at on-orbit refueling.