China and space security: How to bridge the gap between its stated and perceived intentions

Abstract

There is an obvious gap between China's express intention to be a responsible space actor and the perception of its being a possible or imminent threat to space security. This article identifies the elements leading to the false perception held by some States based on an evaluation of China's space-related controversial events: the ideological and military considerations; the misunderstanding and obscurity surrounding China's space policies and activities; the inaccurate contention of China's non-compliance with its international legal obligations and its lack of expertise and experience in international negotiations. Based on the historical opportunities that the China's current government is facing, the conclusion will be reached at how to bridge this gap through transparency improvement and the establishment of confidence-building measures, including the elimination of military involvement and encouraging commercial exploration and utilization of outer space through national legislation; the improvement of the space governance mechanisms; more effective, targeted and meaningful information exchange and policy dialogue to enlarge cooperation and forge strategic military trust.