Russia & China Propose New treaty To Ban Arms In Space
Pictured: Anti-Satellite weaponry, dude.
Russia and China have proposed a new treaty to ban the use of weapons in space, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Tuesday, amid concerns of growing anti-satellite missile rivalry.
“Without preventing an arms race in space, international security will be wanting,” Lavrov told a conference on disarmament in Geneva.
“The task of preventing an arms race in space is on the conference’s agenda. It’s time… to start serious practical work in this field,” he said.
The new treaty would prohibit the deployment of weapons of any kind in space, and the use or threat of force against space objects, he added.
Concerns over a new arms race in space have been growing since China tested an anti-satellite missile in January last year, sparking diplomatic concern.
The United States also has its own anti-satellite programme ranging from laser cannon to satellite destroying missiles.
The Outer Space Treaty of 1967 bans the build up or stockage of military weapons — including nuclear arms or weapons of mass destruction — in orbit and their installation on the moon, but not the shooting down of satellites.
“Weapons deployment in space by one state will inevitably result in a chain reaction. And this, in turn, is fraught with a new spiral in the arms race both in space and on the earth,” Lavrov said.
The United States has had no declared anti-satellite program since 1985 when it destroyed one of its own satellites in space with a missile launched by a fighter jet.
However, the US Missile Defense Agency asked last year for 10 million dollars to study the feasibility of a “test bed” to develop space-based missile defences.
(AP)
We’re waaaaay ahead of them on this. This is just a tactic to give them time to catch up.
February 12th, 2008 at 1:19 pmThat could mean the US has an edge in such technology.
February 12th, 2008 at 1:23 pmBan arms that are not Chinese or Russian more like it.
If anyone is interested in reading, there is a book called “Unrestricted Warfare: China’s Master Plan to Destroy America” you can find it on Amazon. The China’s Master Plan to Destroy America of the title is the translator’s liberty
It was written as some sort of Doctoral Thesis by two Chinese military officers, I think they were Colonels or something who are apparently rising stars in the PLA.
I am not claiming this is a Chinese war plan but it is an interesting read.
February 12th, 2008 at 1:27 pmRight, because we can always trust that they will tell the truth and honor their word.
February 12th, 2008 at 1:48 pmLet them agree on one, we don’t have to. I trust them as far as I could throw a satellite.
February 12th, 2008 at 4:10 pmregarding China I always found this article to be interesting
February 12th, 2008 at 4:37 pmhttp://www.airforcetimes.com/news/2008/01/airforce_china_strategy_080121/
Psshhh.
February 12th, 2008 at 5:22 pmThey must have been reading about Rods from God
February 12th, 2008 at 6:14 pm