September 16, 2026 — China has warned that the deployment of weapons designed for use in outer space could intensify military competition, after U.S. officials acknowledged that Washington has on-orbit capabilities intended to defend against hostile actions.
Reuters reported that Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun urged the United States to stop what Beijing described as military expansion in space and to support strategic stability.
The issue comes as governments increasingly view satellites and space-based infrastructure as critical to communications, navigation, intelligence and military operations. Any expansion of offensive or defensive capabilities in orbit could affect how countries assess the security of those systems.
The United States has said its space capabilities are intended to protect its assets and respond to hostile actions. China has argued that such deployments could encourage other countries to develop countermeasures.
Why it matters: Space infrastructure supports civilian services as well as national security. Greater competition could therefore have implications well beyond military planning.
Source: Reuters, September 16, 2026.
Photo: Unsplash / Road Ahead. Used as a general international-news illustration.
