China may use South China Sea Tactics in Space

To say there has been a lot of controversy surrounding China's actions in the South China Sea would be a vast, vast understatement. China has laid claim to the entire South China Sea and has no basis for it in international law. They are doing what the US did with the Guano Islands Act[1], but in a very different era. However, there is a huge difference: China's claims[2] are actually contradicted by international law.

The Chinese claims reach down and into waters that ought to be under control of the other nations ringing the South China Sea. Every nation on earth has right to its sovereign waters and then a 200 mi economic exclusion zone[3]. This includes the nations ringing the South China Sea, such as the Philippines, Indonesia, Vietnam, Malaysia and Vietnam. When China built a base on one of the islands in the South China Sea that ought to be within the theoretical EEZ of the Philippines, the Filipinos had zilch chance of dislodging the Chinese and are extremely wary of letting the US back on their soil, so they did what they ought to, tbh: they brought a suit[4] against China in the Permanent Court of Arbitration[5,6]. The Philippines won. However, the Chinese have ignored the ruling and have continued to expand in the South China Sea. Among the nations along the South China Sea only Cambodia is not opposing China. There may be reasons for that[7].

The US has been opposing this and conducting "sail-bys," Freedom of Navigation Operations[8], that basically have a ship or plane fly through the zones claimed by China. This is meant to be a defiance of the Chinese as well as setting precedent that route is open to any nation for sailing or flying through without China's sovereignty claims having any validity. It does not stop the Chinese from building their bases in the South China Sea, but in the terms of international law, it builds the case against China.

However, there has been an interesting twist in all of this. A recent report to Congress[9] and the testimony following[10] raise concerns China may follow the same strategy in space as it is in the South China Sea. No nation is supposed to claim any territory in space per the Outer Space Treaty[11]. However, given China's recent activities ignoring international law in the South China Sea...

The resources in space are not economically viable as yet to send to the Earth, but in the future that may change. However, if the intent is to build a very large project in space, space resources may make far more sense if the infrastructure investments are made. The cost of putting equipment in orbit is very high, even in the SpaceX era. Building even moderate bases in space are very, very expensive. The massive SLS and BFR rockets can only put items less than the mass of an M-1 tank at the moon, not even land a fraction of that on the surface. And even the BFR is very, very expensive to build once. If you can refine the material for and build it locally, it could be far, far cheaper. That would allow for local expansion of whatever project faster. Whatever that may be.

What are China's intentions? Given their actions in the South China Sea, given their actions in Antarctica[12], and given their stated goals for space, it's quite possible space may convert into a land rush with China claiming territory. Territory the world agreed ought to be unclaimable for national interests, but not private ones, at least for those who did not sign the Moon Treaty[13]. Time will tell.

1. en.wikipedia.org...
2. en.wikipedia.org...
3. en.wikipedia.org...
4. en.wikipedia.org...
5. en.wikipedia.org...
6. pca-cpa.org...
7. www.nytimes.com...
8. www.belfercenter.org...
9. www.uscc.gov...
10. www.parabolicarc.com...
11. en.wikipedia.org...
12. www.ft.com...
13. en.wikipedia.org...

Ummm...we could shoot their cheap Chinese crap out of space if it becomes an issue.

Bring on the Space Force to protect US interest in space and on the moon.

originally posted by: Homefree
Ummm...we could shoot their cheap Chinese crap out of space if it becomes an issue.

With your cheap Chinese crap?

Maybe they should build an island up there. Eventually Earth will be it's own Dyson Sphere! That would be so coo.... Ugh! Wait. Nevermind. No sun! doh!

a reply to: chr0naut

A space island of cheap Chinese crap. Hahaha! It'll fall apart in a few days and give everyone lead poisoning!

originally posted by: StallionDuck
a reply to: chr0naut

A space island of cheap Chinese crap. Hahaha! It'll fall apart in a few days and give everyone lead poisoning!

China has been producing goods to RoHS (Restriction of Hazardous Substances) compliance standards for years. Most of China's electronic goods are RoHS compliant so they can sell into markets covered by the standard. They have mostly replaced lead with tin and other, less toxic, low melting point metals.

Only California in the US acknowledges RoHS standards. Most electronics produced in the US, for US consumption, still has excessive amounts of dangerous heavy metals (like lead). Buy American made and Make American Gums Ablate!