The anti-satellite missile test was China’s way of bringing the US to the negotiating table for stopping the proliferation of space weapons.
MUMBAI: The anti-satellite missile test was China’s way of bringing the US to the negotiating table for stopping the proliferation of space weapons. This was stated by Alfred Webre, co-architect of the Space Preservation Treaty and the Space Preservation Act that was introduced in the US Congress.
Talking to DNA about the Chinese test, Webre said that for the past 6 years China and Russia had played a positive role to curb the proliferation of space weapons.
However, the Bush administration had unilaterally terminated the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty signed by Nixon and Brezhnev in 2002 with a clear intention of developing highly sophisticated space weapons to dominate the world. It was in response to the US belligerence that China conducted the anti-satellite missile test.
According to Webre, the US government is engaged in the development of a platform in space which will be used to launch laser, depleted Uranium weapons called ‘Rods of god’, with an aim to dominate earth as well as space.
“The new space weapons are so sophisticated that an object of the size of the football can be targeted,” Webre said.
The US wants to claim ownership of outer space which is a violation of the 1968 UN treaty on outer space.
Webre though feels that despite there being some justification there are a lot of negatives associated with the Chinese test. “The US would use this test as an excuse to further accelerate the development of missile defence system.”
“Also, the destruction of a satellite has resulted in the increase of junk in space which poses a great threat to the satellites and space vehicles,” he added.
Considering the current geopolitical scenario in which China is pitted against the US, the anti-satellite test won’t be enough to force the US to back off from its agenda.
“Anything that China does is perceived as anti-US and vice-versa. A third country therefore can play a crucial role in bringing both the sides to the table and sign the Space Preservation Treaty,” Webre said.
According to Webre, that country could be India. “India is a space superpower as well as an advocate of non-proliferation. India can easily attract a number of countries to sign the Space Preservation Treaty which bans the use of space weapons and promotes space economy.”
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}