NASA has expressed concerns about China’s advancing space program, with the head of the American agency, Bill Nelson, accusing Beijing of increasing its space capabilities and disguising a military program as a civilian one. Nelson emphasized the need for China to understand that space should be used for peaceful purposes, but he expressed doubt that China has demonstrated this intention.
During a budget request hearing, Nelson warned against underestimating China’s investments in space and stressed the importance of maintaining American leadership in space exploration. He acknowledged China’s significant financial commitments to its space program and urged vigilance in ensuring that the United States remains at the forefront of space exploration.
As both the United States and China have plans to send astronauts to the Moon in the coming years, the competition in space exploration continues to escalate. Nelson’s remarks underscore the importance of securing American leadership in space and the need to closely monitor China’s space activities to prevent any potential threats to US interests.
Nelson stated that despite China’s progress in recent years, their activities are shrouded in secrecy which raises suspicions about their true intentions. He emphasized on peaceful use of space and called upon Beijing to understand this concept before furthering their advancement.
