China warns ‘dangerous’ US actions are raising risk of space arms race

Zhang Xiaogang, a spokesman for the defence ministry, accused the US of “continuing to expand its space military capabilities, strengthening space military alliances and provoking a space arms race”, saying its actions have “jeopardised global strategic stability”.

He told the ministry’s monthly press conference on Thursday: “We urge the US to seriously examine its dangerous actions in the space domain, cease provoking space confrontations and stop spreading false narratives.”

Earlier this month a Space Force unit began operating out of Yokota Air Base in western Tokyo, the first such unit stationed in Japan.

It follows the deployment of another Space Force unit in South Korea in 2022 and comes as Washington and allies look to counter the increasingly advanced technology being deployed by China, Russia and North Korea.

Zhang said China opposed the militarisation of outer space and said it was committed to peaceful activities there.