Reaching for the Stars: China's Advancement in the Space Race

Over the last few years, the People’s Republic of China (PRC) has increased its investment in outer space, a domain historically dominated by the United States. China’s space research and exploration ambitions threaten to undermine American interests in orbit and pose national security concerns for the United States on the ground. The Vandenberg Coalition welcomes Dean Cheng, Senior Advisor to the China Program at the United States Institute of Peace and Kari Bingen, former U.S. Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence, to examine this threat and discuss ways for the United States to effectively counter the CCP in outer space.

00:00:00 Opening by TVC Executive Director Carrie Filipetti

00:01:15 Impact of space on American life

00:07:16 China’s mechanisms to supplant U.S. dominance in space

00:11:02 Implications of China’s development of counter-space capabilities

00:14:35 Artificial intelligence & communications in space

00:18:22 Civil-military fusion in China vs. the U.S. government’s commercial reliance

00:25:15 Spectrum of American space defense capabilities

00:27:09 Pathways for space classification, control, & cooperation

00:30:50 Areas of American dominance & underdeveloped technologies in space

00:38:46 Coordination between space companies, the U.S. government, & allied nations

00:43:32 Policymakers’ complex protective mechanisms over private companies

00:51:00 Biden’s 2024 space budget request increase

00:52:58 Consequences of the limited legal architecture governing space

00:57:01 Space as a strategic dimension of U.S.-Chinese competition

01:00:35 Closing by TVC Executive Director Carrie Filipetti