Did you hear the one about the People’s Republic of China in space? No? Too bad because it’s a real killer.
As President Obama dismantles our space program one astronaut and one rocket at a time, China is proving that nature does indeed hate a vacuum as it leaps into the void where the United States once was — per President Kennedy’s mandate — pre-eminent.
Why is China so anxious to establish itself as the new — and permanent — force in the ultimate high ground? Because they fully understand what Obama, most members of Congress, and most in the mainstream media do not.
That is that no nation on Earth is more dependent upon their satellites and assets in low and geosynchronous orbit for survival than the United States.
As such, our nation could instantly lose most or all of its ability to communicate, give and receive military orders, observe hostile activity, or make financial transactions should say, an anonymous nation — once established in the now ceded ultimate high ground — decide to take out our strategic assets in orbit.
Science fiction? Not in the least. While covered by highly respected national security issues journalist Bill Gertz but ignored by most of the media — hey, they’ve got to report on those Oscar gowns — in testimony before the Senate Armed Services Committee, Army Lt. Gen. Ronald L. Burgess, director of the Defense Intelligence Agency, waved the red flag in front of all who cared to pay attention.
Here’s what Burgess said, as he detailed China’s growing capability with regard to its military-controlled space program, its anti-satellite missile program and its cyber warfare program:
“The space program, including ostensible civil projects, supports China’s growing ability to deny or degrade the space assets of potential adversaries and enhances China’s conventional military capabilities. …
“China operates satellites for communications, navigation, earth resources, weather, and intelligence surveillance, and reconnaissance, in addition to manned space and space exploration missions. …
“China’s successfully tested a direct ascent anti-satellite weapon missile and is developing jammers and directed-energy weapons for ASAT missions, a prerequisite for ASAT attacks, China’s ability to track and identify satellites is enhanced by technologies from China’s manned and lunar programs, as well as technologies and methods developed to detect and track space debris.”
Analysts estimate that with just two-dozen ASAT missiles, China could severely disrupt U.S. military operations through attacks on satellites.
Doesn’t that anticipated scenario deserve just a little more attention from the Obama White House?
Should — or when — the Chinese use those ASAT weapons, what’s next? The Chinese leadership offering the articles of surrender or complete capitulation to the U.S. leadership?
Again, fiction? Hardly.
All of this is happening before our very eyes and yet, inexplicably, our government has chosen to make it exponentially easier for the PRC to operate in this arena unchecked and worse, unchallenged.
While much of our country has evolved into a disposable society that rarely sees beyond the next week, month or at most, year, the People’s Republic of China continues to map out its future in years, decades, and even centuries.
Over the last number of years, the Chinese leadership has come to believe that their national and economic security will be tied directly to their ability to dominate the space between the Earth and the moon.
The head of the Defense Intelligence Agency not only understands this, but is doing his sworn duty to warn our civilian leadership. Unfortunately, almost no one cares. Exactly what the Chinese leadership is counting on.
Douglas MacKinnon is a long-time consultant on space issues, as well as a former White House and Pentagon official.
Douglas MacKinnon is a long-time consultant on space issues, as well as a former White House and Pentagon official.
