At a recent hearing before the US House Appropriations Committee, NASA Administrator Bill Nelson raised concerns about China’s space activities, suggesting that its civilian space program could be serving as a front for Chinese operations. military, according to public Guardian. “We believe that much of his calling civil space program is a military program” Nelson declared, in an attempt to justify a significant increase in NASA’s budget of $25.4 billion by 2025.
Why should the United States return to the Moon first?
This statement comes at a time of growing tension between the two world powers, with accusations flying in both directions about the true intentions behind their technological advances and space explorations. During the hearing, questions were raised about how NASA plans to maintain its advantage over China, given the “significant investments” China has made in its space program. Nelson responded firmly, “We’re in a race,” alluding to the importance of the United States getting to the Moon first ahead of China’s new goal of 2030. He added that If China manages to land first, they will be able to claim the lunar territory as its own, comparing this potential situation with its territorial claims in the South China Sea, such as the Spratly Islands.
A race that China runs in secret
Nelson also expressed concern about China’s space activities and its lack of transparency. “China has done extraordinary advances, especially in the last 10 years, But they are very, very secret,” he said. This lack of openness has led to speculation and concerns about the true capabilities and objectives of the Chinese space program, which Nelson and other experts say could include the militarization of space and the possibility of a territorial confrontation alien.
China does not sign the Artemis agreement on peaceful space exploration
The hearing became a stage to discuss the Artemis Accords, a treaty that promotes space exploration for peaceful purposes and has been signed by more than 40 countries, excluding China. Nelson called on China to “rethink and understand that civil space is for peaceful uses,” although he acknowledged that so far he has seen no evidence of China adopting this stance. His comments reflect growing concern about China’s intentions and the future of space exploration, where competition for lunar resources could translate into a new theater of geopolitical rivalry.
