Gonzaga Debate Institute 2011 Mercury China Coop Aff


Coop Solvency – Now Key to Influence Chinese Space Policy (1/2)



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Coop Solvency – Now Key to Influence Chinese Space Policy (1/2)




Status quo is not utilizing U.S. influence on China’s future space policy

Houpt, Master of Arts, Security Studies, Georgetown University, 2011

(Daniel M., “Does China have a comprehensive, coordinated, and consistent space policy? Implications for U.S. policymakers,” ProQuest, accessed 7/1/11, p. 48-49) EK


There are a number of policy implications that can be drawn from this analysis, but two stand out as most important for U.S. policymakers. First of all, as the typology should illuminate, there are a variety of ways in which China’s space program can threaten U.S. interests, aside from just the weaponization of space. Second, the above analysis should also highlight that, even if the U.S. pursues the weaponization of space, China will quickly follow. Optimistically, it seems as though the Obama administration has recognized the threats emanating from foreign civilian, diplomatic and commercial space activities, while still remaining cognizant of the importance of military space threats. Indeed, the administration has developed a policy approach that lays a foundation for addressing the near-term issues raised by China’s multi-track policy approach—one that responds with a multi-track approach. Although a positive step in addressing China’s rise as a spacefaring nation, this strategy overlooks the ability of U.S. policymakers to influence China’s policy decisions. This is an advisable strategy since China has yet to drive full force toward a single goal. The U.S. should utilize its leadership role and preeminence in space to shape the future of the domain and finesse Chinese leaders into a space policy that is more amicable to U.S. interests.

China space policy directly influenced by U.S.

Houpt, Master of Arts, Security Studies, Georgetown University, 2011

(Daniel M., “Does China have a comprehensive, coordinated, and consistent space policy? Implications for U.S. policymakers,” ProQuest, accessed 7/1/11, p. 55) EK


The U.S. has greater influence over China’s space program that policymakers seem to realize. “Beijing’s view of the heavens is not the same as Washington’s; indeed, when Beijing looks into space, its view is largely obscured by U.S. assets. The actions, assets, and rhetoric of the United States given China even more discomfort than Europe, Russia, Japan, or others feel.” 171 This is because the U.S. is currently the preeminent space power in the areas China is most interested in. The U.S is also the only nation that seems to have the technology, experience, and resources to shape the way outer space as a domain progresses. Whether the U.S. wants to weaponize space, send a manned mission to Mars, or dominate the international commercial space market, few would doubt the U.S.’s ability to do so. Therefore, in the eyes of the Chinese, the U.S. is both the country to emulate as well as the country to beat in space. China, however, cannot yet achieve at the same level of the U.S., so therefore must set its resource and political goals carefully. Its strategy of hedging for the future is in one sense a way to avoid making these decisions before the U.S. has decided its own path in space. Only after the U.S. has set a course can China decide how best to tailor its space program in response. Given this close relationship, it should become clear to U.S. policymakers that the decisions they make now will inexorably influence how China progresses as a space power.


Coop Solvency – Now Key to Influence Chinese Space Policy (2/2)




Status quo is creating a security dilemma – now is key for U.S. leadership

Houpt, Master of Arts, Security Studies, Georgetown University, 2011

(Daniel M., “Does China have a comprehensive, coordinated, and consistent space policy? Implications for U.S. policymakers,” ProQuest, accessed 7/1/11, p. 62) EK


Not being proactive and assuming the status quo is sufficient is a dangerous policy. The U.S. and China are locked in mindset of mutual suspicion. Chinese leaders are allowing the Space Dragons to research and design counterspace weapons because they believe the U.S. will inevitably weaponize space. The U.S. takes China’s ASAT program and other questionable space missions as an affront to its space dominance and a potent threat to its space assets. If the U.S. does not become more proactive in shaping China’s thinking on space, by engaging it in ways like those discussed above, and taking the lead in shaping space as a cooperative environment, the status quo can quickly deteriorate into a security dilemma. Furthermore, one cannot assume the U.S. will be the leader in space forever. Avoiding action now could mean that in the future the U.S. will be faced with the inability to shape outer space as a domain or influence Chinese space policy to the same degree, a dangerous prospect for U.S. interests.

U.S. is key to future Chinese space policy – now is key

Houpt, Master of Arts, Security Studies, Georgetown University, 2011

(Daniel M., “Does China have a comprehensive, coordinated, and consistent space policy? Implications for U.S. policymakers,” ProQuest, accessed 7/1/11, p. 54-55) EK


The downside of the NSP and NSSS is that they are reactive policy documents, not proactive, as they primarily outline policy responses to threats that are already coming to the fore instead of proposing ways to shape the future threat environment in space. The U.S. currently holds the most capability to shape how space will develop in the coming decades and should fully embrace this role while it can, particularly with regards to China. As shown in the above analysis, China attaches great importance to U.S. rhetoric and actions and the U.S. will continue to play a decisive part in China’s decision making in space moving forward. In other words, since China’s multi-track policy approach is hedging its bets until space is better defined, the U.S. has a unique opportunity to shape both outer space as a domain, and China’s future policy objectives.

U.S. space policy now is key to solve weaponization, relations and U.S. competition.

Houpt, Master of Arts, Security Studies, Georgetown University, 2011

(Daniel M., “Does China have a comprehensive, coordinated, and consistent space policy? Implications for U.S. policymakers,” ProQuest, accessed 7/1/11, p. 62-63) EK


Which end goals the Chinese leadership decides to fully pursue depends foremost on the actions the U.S. takes now and in the coming decades. The space policy documents released under the Obama administration sufficiently recognize the multi-faceted threat that China’s space policy can present and lays a foundation for addressing them. Proper implementation of these policies should now be the top priority. The NSP and NSSS do not, however, suggest a road ahead for proactively shaping other countries’ space policies. U.S. policymakers need to utilize the power and space preeminence of the U.S. now, while it still has it. By doing so the U.S. can temper mutual suspicion, avoid a spiral towards the weaponization of space, and invigorate the U.S. for the growing competition in other space mission areas.



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