US condemns China 'space weapon'

by DIG THE HEAVY | January 18, 2007 at 04:36 pm

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The United States, Australia and Canada have
criticised China over a weapons test it is said to have carried out in
space last week.

The Americans say the Chinese sent up a ballistic missile to destroy an ageing weather satellite.

They say the test went against the spirit of co-operation both countries aspire to in the area of civil space.

Reports say Britain, South Korea and Japan were expected to express their concerns to China soon.

US National Security Council spokesman Gordon Johndroe
confirmed a report in the magazine, American Aviation Week and Space
Technology.

The report cited space sources as saying a Chinese Feng
Yun 1C polar orbit weather satellite, launched in 1999, was destroyed
by an anti-satellite system launched from or near China's Xichang Space
Centre in Sichuan Province on 11 January.

The impact occurred at more than 537 miles (865km) above Earth.

"The US believes China's development and testing of such weapons is inconsistent with the spirit of co-operation that both countries aspire to in the civil space area," Mr Johndroe said.

"We and other countries have expressed our concern regarding this action to the Chinese."