China's air force chief has called military competition in space “inevitable”, a departure from Beijing's past insistence that it is not pursuing space programmes for military purposes.
The remarks by General Xu Qiliang, head of the People's Liberation Army air force, published in several state media, are a reminder of another area of potential future rivalry between the US and China. In addition, they indicate increased competition within China's military.
“Competition between military forces is developing towards the sky and space, it is extending beyond the atmosphere and even into outer space. This development is a historical inevitability and cannot be undone,” said Gen Xu according to Xinhua, the official news agency.