The White House is hoping it will not have to confront China over its space activities as a huge rocket threatens to plummet to Earth this weekend.
White House press secretary Jen Psaki declined to commit the United States to seeking compensation from China should debris from one of its 100-foot, 46,000-pound Long March 5B rockets cause any destruction when it is projected to return to Earth this Saturday.
“We’d, of course, refer to the advice and guidance from the U.S. Space Command and Department of Defense and others,” Psaki told reporters Wednesday. “We are certainly tracking its location through U.S. Space Command, and hopefully that’s not the outcome that we are working through.”
LOW-KEY BIDEN NEEDS TO SELL HIS VACCINE PUSH AND SPENDING PACKAGE
China may be liable for damage caused by the rocket, which was used to launch the core module of its Tiangong Space Station last week, under a United Nations convention. While fragments of the rocket will likely land in an ocean or burn up when they reenter the Earth’s atmosphere, they could also hit a population center. The space station is China’s first permanent facility in orbit.
The U.S. will work with international partners to promote “responsible space behaviors” as debris becomes more of a concern, Psaki said.
“It’s in the shared interest of all nations to act responsibly in space to ensure the safety, stability, security, and long-term sustainability of outer space activities. So cooperation is a hallmark of our approach,” she added.
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER
Parts of another Long March 5B rocket fell on the Ivory Coast last May, destroying homes in the process.
