A taikonaut emerges from China's Shenzhou 7 spacecraft after a successful orbital flight
Former NASA associate deputy administrator Eric R. Sterner has written an op-ed for Aviation Week warning that the U.S. should be very wary of cooperating too closely with China:
There are ample reasons for the U.S. to keep its distance. While the U.S. explicitly decided to separate its space exploration activities from the military, China’s human spaceflight program is a subsidiary of the People’s Liberation Army. In that context, the risks of illicit technology transfer are considerable.
Closer relations create greater opportunities for China to acquire sensitive technology. In 2007, the U.S. launched the interagency National Export Enforcement Initiative, designed to combat illegal trafficking in sensitive technologies. Within a year, charges were filed against 145 criminal defendants. Iran and China were the intended destinations for most of the known illegal exports. The Justice Dept. noted, “The illegal exports to China have involved rocket launch data, space shuttle technology, missile technology, naval warship data, [UAV] technology, thermal imaging systems, military night-vision systems and other materials.” This is consistent with other Chinese activities, including a massive 2005 cyber-raid on NASA’s computers that exfiltrated data about the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter’s propulsion system, solar panels and fuel tanks.
The U.S. should be concerned about such transfers for two reasons. First, they will aid Chinese military modernization, particularly in areas where the U.S. holds an advantage (see p. 29). The Defense Dept.’s 2009 annual report on the Chinese military concludes, “The pace and scope of China’s military transformation have increased in recent years, fueled by acquisition of advanced foreign weapons, continued high rates of investment in its domestic defense and science and technology industries, and far-reaching organizational and doctrinal reforms of the armed forces.”
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For sure co-operative space venture may pose many serious risks unless it is preceded by binding intention.
The 1958 space act gives the mandate “peaceful purposes for the benefit of mankind” as does the UN supported treaty basis.
It is this intention that needs to be expanded upon, policy protocols for internationalized space development can currently be obtained through the UN auspices.
Such levels of participation might readily include for global security structures as well as for the expansion of collaborative assets into areas such as climate change, sustainability, civil society assurance and so on.
With proper attention international space agendas can pursue for effective non-proliferation, yet without a US led treaty level focus it is unlikely that such benefits can be realized.
What is needed is a holistic and inclusive platform, more space vehicles are not going make the difference, what will create genuine results is clear insight into how a global and collaborative space development can be carefully obtained, verified and ensured.