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China has strongly rejected US allegations that it is developing “dogfighting satellites”—spacecraft capable of engaging in orbital combat—calling the claim a fabrication aimed at securing higher military funding. The Chinese foreign ministry labeled the accusations as part of Washington’s “Cold War mentality”, designed to stoke fears and justify increased defence spending on space warfare capabilities.
The controversy arose after a top US Space Force official suggested that China had deployed maneuverable satellites capable of engaging in space-based dogfights. The Pentagon has previously expressed concerns about China’s rapid advancements in anti-satellite (ASAT) weaponry, which could threaten US assets in orbit.
Beijing has consistently maintained that its space program is peaceful, aimed at scientific exploration and technological progress, rather than military conflict. Chinese officials argue that the US itself is militarizing space, citing Washington’s establishment of the Space Force and development of advanced satellite-based defense systems.
With space emerging as the next frontier of global competition, the latest exchange underscores the deepening US-China tensions. As both nations continue to expand their presence in orbit, is space diplomacy still a possibility, or are we heading toward an era of militarized outer space?
