China Urges US to Stop ‘Preparing for War’ in Space After Weapons Deployed in Orbit

China on Tuesday urged the United States to “stop preparing for war” in outer space after the US Space Force confirmed that it had deployed weapons into orbit for the first time.

The development has raised fresh concerns over the growing militarisation of space amid intensifying strategic rivalry between Washington and Beijing.

The US Space Force said on Monday that it had deployed “on-orbit space control weapons capable of defending … against hostile adversary action.” However, it did not disclose specific details about the weapons or their capabilities.

Reacting to the announcement, China’s Foreign Ministry criticised the move and warned against turning outer space into a battlefield.

“We urge the US side to stop expanding its military capabilities and preparing for war in outer space,” Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun said at a news briefing.

Beijing also opposed what it described as the weaponisation of outer space and an arms race in space.

The US Space Force specifically identified China as a potential threat, stating that Beijing is developing and operating space and counterspace capabilities as part of its broader military modernisation strategy.

Russia was also named as a strategic rival. According to the US Space Force, Moscow believes that space supremacy could become a decisive factor in future conflicts.

The militarisation of space is not new. Concerns over military use of space date back to the Cold War and the beginning of the space race. Following the Soviet Union’s launch of Sputnik, the world’s first artificial satellite, in 1957, the United States and the Soviet Union began exploring ways to protect, arm and potentially destroy spacecraft.

One of the biggest concerns during the Cold War was the deployment of nuclear weapons in space. However, the 1967 Outer Space Treaty prohibited the placement of weapons of mass destruction in orbit around Earth.

The latest US deployment has nevertheless reignited debate over the future of military competition in space, with China warning that continued expansion of space-based military capabilities could trigger a new arms race beyond Earth.