Based on China’s ownership claims and belligerent expansionist actions toward the entire South China Sea, it should not seem far-fetched that it is planning a similar takeover of the Moon. And NASA’s chief is now saying just that.
In a two-part analysis in August 2021, I wrote about the upcoming potential battle with China for a Moon base site.
I wrote: “There may be only a few locations on the moon where it would make economic sense to build a base, said Bleddyn Bowen, a professor at the University of Leicester and author of War in Space: Strategy, Spacepower, Geopolitics, and this is driving the concern.”
Tara Copp explained in Defense One:
“If you have a situation like that, where you’re trying to do something in the exact same spot, it’s essentially who gets there first,” said Alex Gilbert, a researcher and space resources doctoral student at the Payne Institute at the Colorado School of Mines. “And if you’re not first, then the only alternative is to forcibly remove the current occupant.”
And now Bill Nelson, the head of NASA, is warning about the same thing – that China is preparing to lay claim to crucial areas of the Moon.
“There is a new race to space – this time with China,” NASA chief told Bild in an interview published Saturday.
Bild also noted that China plans to work with Russia to establish a base by 2035 – something I also wrote about in April 2021.
Nelson said: “We must be very concerned that China is landing on the moon and saying: It’s ours now and you stay out.”
He added, “China’s space program is a military space program.”
“What do you think is happening on the Chinese space station?” Nelson said, referring to China’s Tiangong space station. “They learn there how to destroy other people’s satellites.”
In April, the U.S. Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) described various potential Chinese space-based weapons, including the Shijian-17 satellite, equipped with a robotic arm the agency believes could be used to grab and damage other satellites.
On Monday, China rejected the NASA chief’s warning that China might “take over” the Moon as part of a military program, saying it has consistently called for building a community of nations in outer space.
But as I wrote in part two of my Moonbase piece, this concern is partly what prompted:
President Trump’s 2020 promise to have U.S.’ boots on the moon’ by 2024 via the Artemis Base Camp project, led by NASA and partnering with several allied countries.
I added, “This ambitious U.S.-led effort is outlined in the Artemis Accords. But neither Russia nor China are expected to join these accords.”
Therefore, it is very likely that both the China-Russia and U.S.-led efforts will build their moon bases without any de-conflicting agreement. And that’s where the Space Marines I have long advocated for may come in handy.
But we will need new doctrine, Space Marines, and capabilities to achieve that.
So, it’s now time for the U.S. and its allies to start aggressively preparing for a potential battle on the surface of the Moon. Space Marines to the ready. ADN
I put nothing past China or Russia when it comes to military expansionist ideology. And they have the perfect fool in the White House right now to do all the expanding they want to do unchecked by US show of force. Whimmpy Joe won’t stop them because they have all the goods on his illegal deals he cut with China and if he tries to bring forces to bear against them they will expose him for the traitor he is!
Paul, watch : for all mankind on apple tv+. it has us and russians shooting at each other on the moon- great series
Way, Way Out….old Jerry Lewis movie..
Yeap. Whoever has the high ground wins.
If necessary, we had better.
Leave it to the ChiComs to muck up whatever they touch. The areas around both of the lunar poles are thought to have large amounts of water ice in permanently shadowed craters near the lunar poles. A coalition of nations led by China and Russia could set up a base at one of the poles, and a coalition of nations led by the USA could set up a base at the other pole. Similar deals could be reached for other lunar resources; with everybody getting some of the lunar resources. The moon has roughly the area of Africa, there should be enough resources for everyone, even if each resource is at only a few sites. Unfortunately the ChiComs ultimately want to control everything and everybody everywhere; and would probably never agree to dividing a few resource-rich lunar sites in anything resembling a vaguely fair fashion.
Recall during the Cold War we planned to send nukes to the Moon
Before you can build a base on the moon, your supply ships have to arrive there.
Good time for it, Biden admin. will help clear the way.
The moon is OURS….we planted a flag on it!
If Trump was still in, China would be bankrupt and begging for help, by now.
Besides, I don’t think the residents of the space station, “Moon”, will allow neighbors.