Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Ma Zhaoxu’s Comments on the Militarization of Space

November 6, 2009 at 3:12 pm | Posted in Space Law | Leave a comment

by P.J. Blount with the blog faculty

From The Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs:

Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Ma Zhaoxu’s Regular Press Conference on November 5, 2009

2009/11/06

On November 5, 2009, Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Ma Zhaoxu held a regular press conference and answered questions.

Ma Zhaoxu: Good Afternoon, ladies and gentlemen. First, I’d like to welcome the officials with the Immigration Department of the Hong Kong Special Administration Region and diplomats from the South Pacific island countries.

I have an announcement to make. At the invitation of the Chinese Government, President Michelle Bachelet of the Republic of Chile will pay a working visit to Shanghai from November 12 to 13.

Now, the floor is open.

Q: Mr. Stern, the US Special Envoy for Climate Change said yesterday that if the developing countries including China don’t take corresponding actions, the US will not agree on the goal of the reduction of green house gas emission. How do you comment on that? Senior official Xu Qiliang of the Chinese Air Force said recently that the militarization in outer space is inevitable. Do you agree? Please share with us China’s position on the outer space issue.

A:. . . On the second question, China has all along upheld the peaceful use of outer space. We oppose the weaponization and arms race in outer space. China has never and will not participate in any form of arms race in outer space. Our position remains unchanged. . . .