Relevance: GS Paper II
Why has this issue cropped up?
Recently, the U.S. President made announcement about the creation of a “space force” or a sixth branch of the American armed forces.
China’s response
- While China has reiterated its response to the Trump Administration’s announcement with its oft-repeated statement that it opposes the weaponisation of space, it knows that it is the prime target of this incipient force.
- With a range of terrestrial interests in direct conflict with the Americans, Beijing will be in no mood to allow U.S. space dominance.
- China’s space military program has been dedicated to building “Assassin Mace” technologies (an array of kinetic and non-kinetic means of attack) — capabilities that are geared to help win wars rapidly.
Russia’s response
- Russia for its part has been shriller in its response, making it clear that it will vigorously take on the U.S..
- However, given its lack of the resources for competition, it will in all probability, for tactical reasons, align itself with China.
Implications for India
- While India is officially committed to PAROS, or the prevention of an arms race in outer space, it is yet to formulate a credible official response to the Trump plan.
- India has yet to establish a credible space command of its own. And, its inter-services rivalries will have to be resolved about the command and control.
- India also has to be concerned about Mr. Trump’s move for another reason — China. Beijing’s reaction could be much stronger than its seemingly muted official response and it does possess a formidable space military program that far exceeds current Indian capabilities.
- For its part, New Delhi would do well to come out with an official white paper on space weapons.
- The government needs to engage with multiple stakeholders directly about the role space weapons will play in India’s grand strategy.
