[FPSPACE] NASA Eyes China as New Space Partner

Fri, 12 Apr 2002 14:29:34 -0500

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http://www.newsmax.com/archives/articles/2002/4/5/15446.shtml

NASA Eyes China as New Space Partner=20

Charles R. Smith // Friday, April 5, 2002=20

NASA and the U.S. State Department are reported to be seeking new ties =
with China after its successful launch and recovery of an unmanned =
Shenzhou spacecraft.

According to Aviation Week and Space Technology, two days after the =
Shenzhou launch, NASA administrator Sean O'Keefe told a forum in =
Washington that he and Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage are =
spending "a lot of time" exploring whether and how to bring China into =
closer cooperation with the U.S. in space.

China has previously sought to join the U.S.-led International Space =
Station (ISS) as a partner. According to Luan Enjie, director of the =
China National Space Administration, the space station "is not a true =
international program" without Chinese participation.

"We want more frequent communication with entrepreneurs, engineers and =
enterprises in the U.S. so that we can have extensive cooperation in the =
future," stated Luan in a November 2001 interview published by Aviation =
Week and Space Technology.

Chinese Army Runs Space Program -- However, the People's Liberation Army =
runs virtually all of China's space efforts. Chinese President Jiang =
Zemin appeared at the Shenzhou launch on March 25 dressed in an Army =
uniform, underscoring the military significance of the PLA manned =
program. The Long March=20

2F vehicle lifted off at 10:15 p.m. Beijing time. At launch, the =
combined launcher and spacecraft weighed 1 million pounds.

The Shenzhou orbital module is reported to have carried a piggyback =
satellite that was released later in the flight. This is the first time =
a Shenzhou has carried an additional satellite. The Chinese have not =
disclosed the satellite's mission.

According to the official Chinese news agency Xinhua, President Jiang =
sent a message of congratulations on the successful return of the =
Shenzhou spacecraft.

Jiang reportedly sent the message in a telephone call to PLA General Cao =
Gangchuan, head of the General Armaments Department of the Chinese =
People's Liberation Army, a member of the Central Military=20

Commission (CMC) and chief director of the national manned spacecraft =
program.

"I believe that this is the first time that General Cao has been =
identified as 'chief director of the national manned spacecraft =
program.' As GAD (General Armaments Department) head, he oversees the =
collection of, and development of, all PLA technology and weapons," =
stated Richard Fisher, a senior fellow at the Jamestown Foundation.

"As an ISS partner, would General Cao be feted all over like the equal =
of the NASA Director? One must at least consider the possibility that =
all ISS information the PLA can get will go straight into their military =
space programs," said Fisher.

China Wants U.S.-made Satellites -- According to Aviation Week, the new =
U.S.-PRC space cooperation could also play into the possible loosening =
of U.S. aerospace export restrictions that have prevented the commercial =
Chinese launch of U.S.-built communications satellites and European =
satellites containing U.S. parts. Several U.S. space industry sources =
noted that the export restrictions have hurt both Chinese and American =
communications satellite sales.

However, the Chinese army has a long history of espionage operations =
inside the U.S. seeking missile and satellite technology. During the =
Clinton administration, Chinese Army General Ding Henggao and PLA=20

General Shen Roujun were able to purchase U.S.-made satellites and =
launch vehicle technology from Loral, Hughes and Motorola. Gen. Shen, =
according to a congressional report, played a key role in acquiring =
classified missile technology.

The People's Liberation Army succeeded in obtaining a wide range of U.S. =
missile technology from the Clinton administration, including satellite =
control facilities, satellite image processing facilities, missile nose =
cone design, multiple warhead delivery systems, guidance systems, =
kick-motor designs and computer systems for ground and space control.

"PRC reports also note the Shenzhou 3 launched its own small satellite. =
This could be a possible nano-sat prototype that could serve a number of =
military purposes including ASAT (Anti-Satellite) missions. In addition, =
the orbital module remains in orbit, performing many functions including =
'earth observation'," stated Richard Fisher.

"For a number of years the Europeans have been trying to sell China =
manned space technologies and they are pushing to get China into the =
ISS. One might imagine that U.S. companies would like to follow suit," =
noted Fisher.

Congressional Reaction Brings Swift NASA Response -- In addition, the =
open publication of possible new links to China via the International =
Space Station brought a swift reaction on Capitol Hill. One =
congressional source demanded and received an official explanation for =
the statements from NASA.

"Over the last four years, at the request of the U.S. Department of =
State, NASA has informed all interested Chinese entities including the =
Chinese National Space Agency and the Chinese National Remote=20

Sensing Center that a prerequisite for any potential new cooperation =
between NASA and China, would be China's adherence to the Missile =
Technology Control Regime (MTCR) guidelines and annex, and adoption of =
export control policies consistent with the MTCR," states an official =
response to the congressional inquiries from NASA dated April 3.

"Further, that once MTCR issues are resolved, NASA would be interested =
in renewing a dialog with China in areas of potential cooperation. This =
USG [U.S. government] position was reiterated to the Chinese Government =
by Embassy Beijing in bilateral discussions conducted in November 2001," =
noted the NASA response.

Congressional sources noted that the proposal being floated by NASA =
administrator O'Keefe and State Department Undersecretary Armitage are =
not, and have never been, official policy. NASA officials, backed by =
White House policy, will neither bring up nor support any Chinese =
participation in the International Space Station.

"By his own admission O'Keefe has yet to determine whether or not he'll =
be able to keep the promises NASA has made to our current partners, so =
it's premature for him to start looking for additional players," noted =
one source inside Capitol Hill.

According to the official April NASA response, "under the International =
Space Station agreements (ISS), it is possible for non-Partners to =
participate in ISS program through an ISS Partner.

"However, all other Partners must be notified and give their consensus =
prior to the non-Partner's participation in the program.=20

Non-Partner participation could occur through contribution of hardware =
to the ISS or through collaborative research. The ISS international =
partners are currently not discussing any plans to pursue Chinese =
participation in this program," noted the official NASA response.

"The only purpose I could see in putting forth such a proposal is =
intelligence gathering for us," said Douglas Brown of the Nathan Hale =
Institute.

"Maybe something to dangle in front of them and to initiate some =
preliminary activities that would be useful for us but the idea of =
letting them in the ISS as full partners sounds like John Huang is now =
sending faxes from State. What's next? Co-piloting our recon planes?" =
asked Brown.

U.S.-China Framework for Peace Comes First -- There is no question that =
the Chinese army runs all space activities from its brand new mission =
control facility located 30 miles northwest of Beijing. The control =
center is packed with U.S.-made computers supplied during the Clinton =
administration.

"The statements made by Jiang Zemin and General Cao surrounding the =
Shenzhou 3 launch were much more Klingon Empire than Kennedyesque.=20

They very clearly link the manned space program to the PLA's military =
ambitions," stated the Jamestown Foundation's Richard Fisher.

"I'm all for space exploration cooperation with China but not before we =
create some peace on Earth, like on the Taiwan Strait and concerning =
China's missile and nuclear proliferation. The minimal 1970s level =
strategic framework that preceded space cooperation with the Soviet =
Union does not exist between the U.S. and the PRC. A strategic framework =
that promotes peaceful behavior on Earth should precede attempts at =
peaceful cooperation in space," concluded Fisher.

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<DIV>
http://www.newsmax.com/archives/articles/2002/4/5/15446.shtml
NASA Eyes China as New Space Partner 
Charles R. Smith // Friday, April 5, 2002 
NASA and the U.S. State Department are reported to be seeking new =
ties with=20
China after its successful launch and recovery of an unmanned Shenzhou=20
spacecraft.
According to Aviation Week and Space Technology, two days after the =
Shenzhou=20
launch, NASA administrator Sean O'Keefe told a forum in Washington that =
he and=20
Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage are spending "a lot of time"=20
exploring whether and how to bring China into closer cooperation with =
the U.S.=20
in space.
China has previously sought to join the U.S.-led International Space =
Station=20
(ISS) as a partner. According to Luan Enjie, director of the China =
National=20
Space Administration, the space station "is not a true international =
program"=20
without Chinese participation.
"We want more frequent communication with entrepreneurs, engineers =
and=20
enterprises in the U.S. so that we can have extensive cooperation in the =

future," stated Luan in a November 2001 interview published by Aviation =
Week and=20
Space Technology.
Chinese Army Runs Space Program -- However, the People's =
Liberation=20
Army runs virtually all of China's space efforts. Chinese President =
Jiang Zemin=20
appeared at the Shenzhou launch on March 25 dressed in an Army uniform,=20
underscoring the military significance of the PLA manned program. The =
Long March=20

2F vehicle lifted off at 10:15 p.m. Beijing time. At launch, the =
combined=20
launcher and spacecraft weighed 1 million pounds.
The Shenzhou orbital module is reported to have carried a piggyback =
satellite=20
that was released later in the flight. This is the first time a Shenzhou =
has=20
carried an additional satellite. The Chinese have not disclosed the =
satellite's=20
mission.
According to the official Chinese news agency Xinhua, President Jiang =
sent a=20
message of congratulations on the successful return of the Shenzhou=20
spacecraft.
Jiang reportedly sent the message in a telephone call to PLA General =
Cao=20
Gangchuan, head of the General Armaments Department of the Chinese =
People's=20
Liberation Army, a member of the Central Military 
Commission (CMC) and chief director of the national manned spacecraft =

program.
"I believe that this is the first time that General Cao has been =
identified=20
as 'chief director of the national manned spacecraft program.' As GAD =
(General=20
Armaments Department) head, he oversees the collection of, and =
development of,=20
all PLA technology and weapons," stated Richard Fisher, a senior fellow =
at the=20
Jamestown Foundation.
"As an ISS partner, would General Cao be feted all over like the =
equal of the=20
NASA Director? One must at least consider the possibility that all ISS=20
information the PLA can get will go straight into their military space=20
programs," said Fisher.
China Wants U.S.-made Satellites -- According to Aviation =
Week, the=20
new U.S.-PRC space cooperation could also play into the possible =
loosening of=20
U.S. aerospace export restrictions that have prevented the commercial =
Chinese=20
launch of U.S.-built communications satellites and European satellites=20
containing U.S. parts. Several U.S. space industry sources noted that =
the export=20
restrictions have hurt both Chinese and American communications =
satellite=20
sales.
However, the Chinese army has a long history of espionage operations =
inside=20
the U.S. seeking missile and satellite technology. During the Clinton=20
administration, Chinese Army General Ding Henggao and PLA 
General Shen Roujun were able to purchase U.S.-made satellites and =
launch=20
vehicle technology from Loral, Hughes and Motorola. Gen. Shen, according =
to a=20
congressional report, played a key role in acquiring classified missile=20
technology.
The People's Liberation Army succeeded in obtaining a wide range of =
U.S.=20
missile technology from the Clinton administration, including satellite =
control=20
facilities, satellite image processing facilities, missile nose cone =
design,=20
multiple warhead delivery systems, guidance systems, kick-motor designs =
and=20
computer systems for ground and space control.
"PRC reports also note the Shenzhou 3 launched its own small =
satellite. This=20
could be a possible nano-sat prototype that could serve a number of =
military=20
purposes including ASAT (Anti-Satellite) missions. In addition, the =
orbital=20
module remains in orbit, performing many functions including 'earth=20
observation'," stated Richard Fisher.
"For a number of years the Europeans have been trying to sell China =
manned=20
space technologies and they are pushing to get China into the ISS. One =
might=20
imagine that U.S. companies would like to follow suit," noted =
Fisher.
Congressional Reaction Brings Swift NASA Response -- In addition, =
the=20
open publication of possible new links to China via the International =
Space=20
Station brought a swift reaction on Capitol Hill. One congressional =
source=20
demanded and received an official explanation for the statements from =
NASA.
"Over the last four years, at the request of the U.S. Department of =
State,=20
NASA has informed all interested Chinese entities including the Chinese =
National=20
Space Agency and the Chinese National Remote 
Sensing Center that a prerequisite for any potential new cooperation =
between=20
NASA and China, would be China's adherence to the Missile Technology =
Control=20
Regime (MTCR) guidelines and annex, and adoption of export control =
policies=20
consistent with the MTCR," states an official response to the =
congressional=20
inquiries from NASA dated April 3.
"Further, that once MTCR issues are resolved, NASA would be =
interested in=20
renewing a dialog with China in areas of potential cooperation. This USG =
[U.S.=20
government] position was reiterated to the Chinese Government by Embassy =
Beijing=20
in bilateral discussions conducted in November 2001," noted the NASA=20
response.
Congressional sources noted that the proposal being floated by NASA=20
administrator O'Keefe and State Department Undersecretary Armitage are =
not, and=20
have never been, official policy. NASA officials, backed by White House =
policy,=20
will neither bring up nor support any Chinese participation in the =
International=20
Space Station.
"By his own admission O'Keefe has yet to determine whether or not =
he'll be=20
able to keep the promises NASA has made to our current partners, so it's =

premature for him to start looking for additional players," noted one =
source=20
inside Capitol Hill.
According to the official April NASA response, "under the =
International Space=20
Station agreements (ISS), it is possible for non-Partners to participate =
in ISS=20
program through an ISS Partner.
"However, all other Partners must be notified and give their =
consensus prior=20
to the non-Partner's participation in the program. 
Non-Partner participation could occur through contribution of =
hardware to the=20
ISS or through collaborative research. The ISS international partners =
are=20
currently not discussing any plans to pursue Chinese participation in =
this=20
program," noted the official NASA response.
"The only purpose I could see in putting forth such a proposal is=20
intelligence gathering for us," said Douglas Brown of the Nathan Hale=20
Institute.
"Maybe something to dangle in front of them and to initiate some =
preliminary=20
activities that would be useful for us but the idea of letting them in =
the ISS=20
as full partners sounds like John Huang is now sending faxes from State. =
What's=20
next? Co-piloting our recon planes?" asked Brown.
U.S.-China Framework for Peace Comes First -- There is no =
question=20
that the Chinese army runs all space activities from its brand new =
mission=20
control facility located 30 miles northwest of Beijing. The control =
center is=20
packed with U.S.-made computers supplied during the Clinton =
administration.
"The statements made by Jiang Zemin and General Cao surrounding the =
Shenzhou=20
3 launch were much more Klingon Empire than Kennedyesque. 
They very clearly link the manned space program to the PLA's military =

ambitions," stated the Jamestown Foundation's Richard Fisher.
"I'm all for space exploration cooperation with China but not before =
we=20
create some peace on Earth, like on the Taiwan Strait and concerning =
China's=20
missile and nuclear proliferation. The minimal 1970s level strategic =
framework=20
that preceded space cooperation with the Soviet Union does not exist =
between the=20
U.S. and the PRC. A strategic framework that promotes peaceful behavior =
on Earth=20
should precede attempts at peaceful cooperation in space," concluded=20
Fisher.</DIV></BODY></HTML>

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