China defended the peaceful use of outer space on September 15, 2026, and urged the United States to halt its military expansion in orbit, according to statements reported by EFE. The diplomatic friction followed an acknowledgment by Washington regarding orbital space control capabilities.
During a regular press briefing in Beijing, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun stated that Beijing consistently safeguards space security and opposes the weaponization of the cosmos. According to EFE, Guo urged Washington to stop expanding its military deployment in space and to take concrete actions to protect global strategic stability.
US Orbital Capabilities and Military Stance
The diplomatic exchange came after United States Air Force Secretary Troy Meink acknowledged the presence of space control weapons in orbit. Speaking at the Air, Space and Cyber conference in Maryland, Meink stated that the U.S. is increasing its readiness against existing threats and possesses orbital capabilities designed to defend joint forces from hostile actions by adversaries, as reported by EFE. U.S. officials did not disclose specific details regarding the exact number, nature, or deployment timelines of these systems.
Alongside these space control assets, Meink outlined ongoing American development programs. These initiatives include space-based interceptor systems and a satellite constellation engineered for tracking mobile targets from orbit.
China’s Multilateral Push and Lunar Program
Amid tensions over orbital militarization, Beijing used a United Nations platform to emphasize international cooperation. On September 14, 2026, at the UN headquarters in Vienna, the China National Space Administration and permanent delegations handed over lunar samples to international representatives, according to official reports. Guo Jiakun noted that the donation reflects China’s commitment to the peaceful exploration principles outlined in the Outer Space Treaty.
The transferred materials originated from the Chang’e-6 mission, which completed a retrieval of samples from the far side of the Moon in 2024. Building on these robotic achievements, China’s broader space roadmap targets a crewed lunar landing before 2030 and the establishment of a research base near the Moon’s south pole.
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