China’s Growing Space Capabilities

Posted: February 9th, 2016

By Bruce MacDonald

Bruce MacDonald's forthcoming report, Crisis Stability in Space: China and Other Challenges will be published by Johns Hopkins University's Foreign Policy Institute. MacDonald, a former White House National Security Council and science and technology official, now teaches at the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies.

The United States has enjoyed unchallenged dominance in the space domain for years, but it appears that time has come to an end. China has been increasing its space activities, which will have strategic consequences for the U.S. The Cipher Brief spoke with Bruce MacDonald, a former White House National Security Council official, about the military applications of China’s space program. He says that, while there is a definite competition in this arena, the conflicting interests between the two countries does not have to result in actual conflict.

The Cipher Brief: How has China’s space program changed and advanced over the last 10 years? How do you expect it to change moving forward?

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