China recently destroyed one of their own outdated weather satellites with a missile launched from the ground. This action, which has not occurred since the Cold War, 20 years ago, has caused numerous countries around the world to protest.

China says their actions are based on their principles for peaceful space. However, their actions and reasoning are ironic. How can a country support peaceful space when they just eradicated a satellite in orbit?

The Chinese government’s actions may been just a ploy to get the world’s attention. Maintaining peace in space is a crucial step as civilization progresses technologically. People need a rude awakening sometimes to realize the necessity for a great step like this.

The United States released a policy in October stating “freedom of action in space is as important to the United States as air power and sea power.” With a policy like this, the United States could be on the road to developing space-based weapons within the near future.

How can theUnited States criticize China’s actions when they themselves are on the way to militarizing space as well?

Then again, the United Stateshas had a long-standing history of refusing weapon rights to other countries while they overindulge themselves with such weapons.

While numerous countries have voiced their opposition to China’s actions, how many have spoken against the United States policy? The world should not chastise China when they openly support peaceful space, but instead question the United States ambitions with their new policy.

Perhaps China’s actions were a bit too extreme and misleading. However, the point they’re trying to make still stands. The militarization of space could very well lead to another arms race. To preserve peace in space, the nations of the world need to get together and agree to leave space weapon-free.

Allowing space militarization will spell disaster for the entire world, bringing terresterial conflicts into orbit. Such a connflict would bring about destruction that humanity has never seen.

Columnist: David Knootz - 02/08/07