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August 02, 2006

Planet Obvious: China War Machine Looks to Space

Red Planet War Preps

 

 

In a stroke of common sense genius, a team of unidentified pointy heads at China’s National Defense University (and likewise elsewhere) have published a report admitting that China’s next strategic area of military involvement will be outer space. Bravo. Of course, this might be China admitting it’s lagging behind collecting on its wish list. After all, even the Soviets talked less and just did. And given China’s claim it wishes this to start international talks on space militarization, maybe it also knows it’s behind the US in (yet) some (other) aspect out there.

 

Nevertheless, it’s been obvious (despite some articles by the AFP) that China desires very badly to militarize space and even gain supremacy in this area, so China’s expressed desire for courtship is no shock to the literate. And as if no one could see this when so much of what is known of American military methods is now based on satellite technology, from JDAM technology to reconnaissance, communications, navigation, and eventually even anti-missile satellites. Indeed, China (and others) may well see American space-based strategic technologies as the Achilles’ heel of US capabilities.

 

To some extent they may be right. It’s indeed no secret that the current US model relies heavily on high technology utilization and perhaps less so on preparations for multi-front, multi-theatre actions, even in light of activities that have been and look to be expanding and not diminishing across the globe.

 

US Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld’s infamous pre-9/11 doctrine of maintaining forces sufficient only for a single-front war and more recent statements by other officials (elected and not) after 2001 who seem to think technology is one of the only factors (if not the primary factor) in war-winning seem to be examples of some domestic disconnect. But, if what they are saying be the case, then why have we still not taken overwhelming action against foreign spying. Even after the release of the stunningly damaging book (The Sword and the Shield by Christopher Andrew and Vasili Mitrokhin) on the Cold War KGB (revealing the exposure of thousands of Soviet operatives and operations), KGB’s successor the SVR, China’s spies and operatives, and those from many other countries and organizations (including Hezbollah) have increased their numbers and activities within the US and against her interests around the world, not decreased them, since 1999. Almost, if not, just as bad are the steadily easing trade restrictions on the export of technology to regimes such as China or to countries which have weaker export restrictions than we do. 

 

Further, China and allies North Korea and Iran have made no secret of their desire to target US satellites as a preemptive move in any serious conflict with the US. Tactics mentioned include using killer satellites and detonating a nuclear-tipped missile in lower orbit, using the EMP (electromagnetic pulse) to fry the circuitry of satellites – especially those most of which are not hardened.

 

Certainly, an attack on communications and infrastructure is a key aspect in the book on cutting the war with your enemy short; we know that and certainly they know that.

 

Another aspect of the use of space is perhaps that of keeping nuclear warheads on satellites which can be launched and detonated high above the target – even an entire continent – creating an EMP that would completely kill most if not all non-hardened technology civilian and military that was invented since the end of the 19^th century.

 

The fact that China wishes to militarize space is no surprise; nor is it that anyone else sees it, be they Russia, Iran, China’s “Mini-Me” North Korea, other bad guys or any of the good guys.

 

 

Posted by Martin at August 2, 2006 10:11 PM

Comments

Posted by: Angel at August 2, 2006 10:16 PM

Posted by: Martin at August 2, 2006 10:29 PM