China urges U.S. to ‘stop preparing for war in outer space’ - The Hindu

**China Calls on the United States to Halt Space‑Arms Preparations**

Beijing issued a blunt diplomatic appeal on Tuesday, urging Washington to “stop preparing for war in outer space” after the United States publicly acknowledged the deployment of weapons on orbit. The Chinese foreign ministry, citing the “peaceful use of outer space” principle enshrined in the 1967 Outer Space Treaty, warned that a militarised space environment would heighten the risk of an arms race and destabilise global security. The statement, reported by *The Hindu*, came shortly after U.S. officials confirmed that the Pentagon has placed weaponised systems aboard satellites, marking the first explicit admission of such capabilities.

The United States’ revelation was confirmed by senior officials from the Air Force and U.S. Space Command. In an interview with *Defense One*, Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall said the service has “on‑orbit” weapons that can engage hostile threats, while a Space Command spokesperson told *Reuters* that the acknowledgment represents “a landmark moment” in the evolution of space operations. The Pentagon has not disclosed the exact nature of the armaments, though analysts cited by the BBC have speculated that they could include kinetic interceptors, directed‑energy devices, or anti‑satellite missiles designed to protect critical U.S. assets from potential adversaries.

China’s response underscores the growing tension between the two superpowers over the militarisation of space. While Washington frames its space‑weapon programmes as defensive measures to safeguard its satellites and maintain freedom of operation, Beijing views them as a breach of international norms and a trigger for a new strategic competition. The divergent narratives are likely to fuel calls for renewed diplomatic dialogue on space governance, as both sides grapple with the challenge of balancing national security interests with the collective need to preserve outer space as a domain for peaceful exploration and cooperation.