Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying expressed the country's objection against America's plan of "weaponizing" space.
Her statement came as US President Donald Trump signed a one-page memorandum that authorized Pentagon to create the United States Space Command.
Hua said China has always pushed for the peaceful and more scientific exploration of space, rejecting entirely the idea of the "weaponization" of space and the possibility of a space arms race. The spokeswoman said the country deject reports that the next war would be in space.
According to the memorandum signed by Trump, the Space Command will perform as a functional Unified Combatant Command. It will also continue the space-related responsibilities previously assigned to the Commander of the US Strategic Command as well as the responsibilities of the Joint Force Provider and Joint Force Trainer for Space Operations Forces.
According to military sources who spoke on condition of anonymity, the Space Command could cost as much as $800 million over the next five years. A further budget will be allocated when the U.S. announced its budget 2020 which will happen in February next year.
Sources said the command will re-designate 600 staff from the existing military space officers. On top of this, the Command will also recruit additional 1,000 more staff in the coming years.
After the signing of the memorandum, Pentagon officials are going to elect top leaders for the Space Command, the sources further revealed. Among those eyed for the position is a four-star general and a deputy. The nominees will have to gain approval of the U.S. Senate
For its initial stages, the Space Command will conduct preliminary operations in Colorado in the area where the Joint Functional Component Command for Space is currently operating. There have been no plans yet for the permanent headquarters for the Space Command.
President Trump is reportedly aggressive about stationing a military base in space due to the growing threat coming from Russia and China. There were purportedly reports claiming that both nations are setting up both nondestructive and destructive anti-satellite weapons in the galaxy.
Meanwhile, AFP reported that the Space Command will eventually be on equal footing with other US military bases like the ones the nation has in the Middle East and other countries across the Indo-Pacific Command in Asia.
The Space Command is separate from the Space Force which President Trump has also been pushing since July and is expected to also receive a separate budget allocation.
