China Confirms Antisatellite Test

Via iht.com -

BEIJING: The Chinese government confirmed Tuesday that it had conducted a successful test of a new antisatellite weapon, but said that it had no intention of participating in a "space race."

The confirmation, made at a regular news briefing held by the Foreign Ministry, came 12 days after China used a medium-range ballistic missile to destroy one of its own weather satellites, which was orbiting about 720 kilometers, or 540 miles, above Earth.

The United States, Japan, Britain and Australia had pressed Beijing to explain the test, apparently the first successful destruction in more than 20 years of a satellite in orbit.

Despite numerous press reports last week quoting Bush administration officials describing the exercise in detail, Chinese officials declined to confirm or deny whether it had occurred. Liu Jianchao, the Foreign Ministry spokesman, issued the first official comment on the matter Tuesday.

"This test was not directed at any country and does not constitute a threat to any country," he said.

"What needs to be stressed is that China has always advocated the peaceful use of space, opposes the weaponization of space and an arms race in space," he said. "China has never participated and will never participate in any arms race in outer space."

Liu did not say why the 2nd Artillery Battalion of the People's Liberation Army had conducted the test. He also did not directly address concerns that shattering a satellite in low-earth orbit might be perceived as inconsistent with China's repeated calls to ban the use of weapons in space.

Beijing's prolonged silence about the test, which American intelligence officials said took place on Jan. 11, raised speculation about China's intentions and the circumstances surrounding the firing of the missile.

Senior Bush administration officials raised the possibility that the blackout of information may have reflected the autonomy and isolation of the military. They said they could not be sure that President Hu Jintao, who oversees the military and the ruling Communist Party, had personally authorized or overseen the test.

Liu denied Tuesday that officials had taken too much time before speaking publicly. "China has nothing to hide," he said. "After various parties expressed concerns, we explained this test in outer space to them."

Japanese and American officials said that China did not volunteer any information about the test until they had made formal diplomatic inquiries, and that it took at least four days to get a reply. They said that that raised concerns about the ability or the willingness of the leadership to respond in a timely fashion when Chinese military actions are perceived abroad as threatening.