S soviet space diplomacy real space cooperation

deploying multiple space combat systems despite years of U.S.-Soviet space diplomacy.
Real space cooperation between Russia
the West became possible only after the fall of the Soviet Union,
and may again become threatened by Russia’s slide
into authoritarian aggression.
Substantive cooperation with China in space offers no assurance that China
will change its threatening behaviors on Earth or in space, but does create opportunities for China
to exploit U.S. and Western space tech
nology
to gain potential military advantages
. ////The following will
address questions posed by the U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission. But first, it is necessary to reflect on the relationship
between China’s pursuit of space power and its military buildup for regional dominance and global projection. ////Space Power and China’s
Military Expansion ////During the 1950s and 1960s, Mao Zedong sought to quickly exploit generous assistance from the Soviet Union, and the
insights of U.S.-trained engineers like Qian Xuesen, to complete the early nuclear missiles to deter feared U.S. and Soviet nuclear strikes. His 651
Program succeeded in launching the Dong Fang Hong-1 satellite in 1970, while also aiding the development of larger missiles. But Mao’s efforts
to build broader space power, such as the 640 Program to build strategic missile defenses, and his early 741 Program manned space ship, faltered
largely due to his destructive politics. Mao, nevertheless, realized that China required the technology and 3 prestige of space in order to increase
its ability to compete with Moscow and Washington on the global stage. ////
Fears for political survival and a mbitions for
global leadership remain the basis for China’s current surge for global military power and space
power. The greatest impetus for the most recent phase of PLA modernization
and buildup
was the
shock of the 1989 Tiananmen rebellion
--
the only time the Party’s power position was actually
threatened by popular, though unorganized, reformist and democratic demands
. In addition to ruthlessly
crushing any potential for democratic dissent, the transitioning CCP leadership of Deng Xiaoping to Jiang Zemin decided to begin the broad
military and space modernization and buildup we see today. ////
At first focused on coercing Taiwan and then securing
control over disputed territories, the early
19
90s saw the start of many PLA programs increasing
its
Anti-Access/Area Denial (
A2AD) capability targeted on the “First Island Chain
.” These include the Chengdu
Aircraft Corporation’s 4th generation J-10 fighter and its J-20 5th generation fighter, and the large Xian Aircraft Corporation Y-20 heavy jet
transport. China’s aircraft carrier ambitions predate Tiananmen but second generation nuclear attack and ballistic submarine programs received
greater emphasis.
This period also saw the beginnings of the PLA’s first “ recon
naissance
strike complex
”
of terminally guided medium-range missiles, and the ability to target them with high resolution
surveillance
, navigation and communication satellites. In addition,
the PLA started developing its second
anti-ballistic
missile (