China could potentially be planning to attack US satellites from the Moon, according to a US Space Force commander. Brig. Gen. Anthony Mastalir, commander of US Space Forces Indo-Pacific, raised concerns about China's lunar exploration program at a recent conference. Mastalir highlighted the need to consider possible attack vectors in outer space beyond geosynchronous orbit (xGeo) and in the cislunar region between Earth and the moon.
The US currently operates thousands of satellites for civilian and military purposes, including cislunar satellites used to monitor ballistic missile threats. US officials have expressed growing apprehension about China's military activities in space. General Stephen Whiting, head of US Space Command, warned that China's space capabilities were advancing rapidly, potentially posing a threat to American and allied space assets.
China has refuted these allegations, accusing the US of using them as a pretext to bolster its own military strength. As part of its ambitious space exploration program, China aims to send astronauts to the moon by the end of the decade. Some experts speculate that China's lunar ambitions could be a strategic move to assert dominance over the moon.
Richard Fisher of the International Assessment and Strategy Center suggested that China might leverage its lunar presence for economic and military purposes, such as surveilling cislunar space and deploying weapon systems to target critical American satellites. However, other experts believe that Chinese control of the moon is improbable due to the risks, costs, and potential provocations involved.
While Mastalir remains primarily focused on Earth-based conflicts, he emphasized the need to evaluate the implications of China's moon strategy on traditional operating orbits. The evolving dynamics in space underscore the escalating competition and strategic considerations among major space-faring nations.
