21 March 2006
Author: Eric Hagt, WSI China Director
The second issue of the World Security Institute’s China Security journal has been released today. Produced by the World Security Institute’s China Program, China Security is a unique policy journal featuring Chinese scholars who provide their perspective on vital traditional and non-traditional security issues that impact China ’s strategic development and its relations with the United States . The English-language journal seeks to build bridges between Washington and Beijing on today’s security issues.
The second issue of China Security is focused on the Chinese space program. In this issue, China Security features six Chinese authors and two American authors who discuss China 's space program and policies and how the Chinese are affected by U.S. activities in space. In addition, World Security Institute President Bruce Blair and Co-Director of the World Security Institute’s International Media Division Chen Yali provide a comprehensive overview of the issue’s salient arguments in their “Editors’ Notes.”
This issue of China Security also provides English-translated reviews of expert articles only available in Chinese, including a review of the new Chinese National Television (CCTV) documentary on the history of the Chinese space program, “Shaking the Heavens.”
A number of articles and books recently published by Chinese authors on space weaponization, civilian space programs and the exploitation of space resources are also explored.
To subscribe to the electronic PDF version, or to receive a hard copy of China Security, please email: info@wsichina.org. Please note that there are a limited number of hard copies available.
Editors’ Notes: The Space Security Dilemma, by Bruce Blair and Chen Yali “Bilateral exchanges…and constructive proposals for cooperation have barely begun in the arena of space policy. The dialogue is oblique, long on rhetoric and short on information.” --Bruce Blair, president of the World Security Institute, and Chen Yali, editor-in-chief of Washington Observer Weekly
China’s Space Mission, by Chang Xianqi and Sui Junqin “ China does not have any plan to use micro-satellites as anti-satellite weapons…since China is neither the first country to possess this technology, nor the country with the most advanced technology, it seems incomprehensible that China should cause concern to others.” --Chang Xianqi, professor and former president of the Institute of Command & Technology, and Sui Junqin, Ph.D. candidate at the Institute of Command & Technology.
Security in Space, by Zhang Hui “…a proposal that restricted ASATs while allowing the deployment of a U.S. missile defense system would be perceived by China as discriminatory…any partial arms control measure involving China should emphasize this concern.” --Zhang Hui, research associate at the Project on Managing the Atom of the Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs at Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government
Strategic Communication, by Joan Johnson-Freese “When the United States pursues certain technologies…it is for connectivity in a global world. When China pursues similar technology, nefarious intent is assumed because of its Communist government.” --Joan Johnson-Freese, chair of the department of national security studies at the Naval War College
Shenzhou and Dreams of Space, by Sun Dangen “When the success of the manned space program helps consolidate the country’s strength, it will further lock China in the development path of protecting national security with advancement of science and technology and national comprehensive strength.” --Sun Dangen, senior research fellow at the Academy of Military Sciences Space Weaponization, by Teng Jianqun
“It is reasonable to assume that the development of human productivity will ineluctably bring war from land, sea and air into outer space if no constraints are placed on it. The international community should draw lessons from history and should either halt the current drift toward space weaponization or, at the very least, slow its trend.” --Teng Jianqun, director of the research department of the China Arms Control and Disarmament Association
Space and Export Control, by Guo Xiaobing “It is high time the U.S. chart a new course and dispose of a policy that has not only failed in its goal of preventing China ’s development in space, but has alienated China and fueled an adversarial relationship between the two countries.” --Guo Xiaobing, researcher at the China Institute of Contemporary International Relations
Vulnerabilities in Space, by Eric Hagt “An environment, where each fears the other will be first to develop and deploy weapons and gain the military advantage in space, creates a vicious circle that threatens to undermine the security interests of both countries as well as the international community.” --Eric Hagt , director of the China Program at the World Security Institute
Development Goals in Space, by Wu Chunsi “China does not have the luxury of engaging in a military competition with superpowers in space, or in other areas.” --Wu Chunsi, associate professor at the Center for American Studies, Fudan University
The World Security Institute is a non-profit organization committed to independent research and journalism on global affairs. Given the extraordinary growth of global interdependence, the Institute provides an innovative approach to communication, education, and cooperation on the social, economic, environmental, political and military components of international security. Through a variety of publications and services, the World Security Institute provides news and research-based analysis to policy-makers around the globe – from decision-makers in Washington , D.C. and Moscow , to scholars in the Farsi- and Arabic-speaking world, to scientists in China .
The Institute serves as an authoritative and impartial monitor of security issues, while continuing to meet the increasing worldwide demand for information and independent ideas. In 2004, the World Security Institute successfully launched a new effort dedicated to promoting research and dialogue between China and the United States on a range of traditional and non-traditional security issues that deeply impact this crucial relationship.
The China Program presently focuses on a number of core projects: China-U.S. Dialogue on Space; China’s Energy Security: New Approaches, Media and Policy; and Challenges for China, the United States, and Europe: A Trialogue on Comprehensive Security. Click here for the PDF version of China Security.
Additional Contact: Eric Hagt , Editor, China Security: Tel: 202.332.0600, ehagt@wsichina.org
(Via World Security Institute.)