In the international panorama, the possibility of a space war is no longer a remote hypothesis but an emerging reality. Aligning with this new era (inaugurated by the creation of the “Space Force” USA), China has introduced an innovative space warfare system, the result of research by the National University of Defense Technology.
This development marks a turning point in the field of military training and readiness, preparing the Chinese military for war scenarios in a domain until recently considered inaccessible: space.
War Games also in space
The system developed in China represents a radical change in the conception of defense and war. For decades, military strategies have been limited to the land and air dimensions, but now, with entry into space, the rules of the game are changing. China's space warfare system allows you to explore and simulate conflict scenarios in a completely different environment, where the laws of physics and traditional combat strategies evolve in unprecedented ways.
One of the major challenges of this new "war domain" is managing the complexity of the space battlefield. Satellites, space stations and other assets in low Earth orbit become strategic targets, and their destruction can have not only military but also civil repercussions, disrupting communications, navigation and terrestrial observations. China, through its space warfare system, will explore just how to manage and protect these vital assets, as well as develop offensive tactics in this new theater of war.
Space war, global impact
On October 31st, China and Russia have banded together to present a resolution to the United Nations, pledging not to be the first to control space weapons and pushing for measures to quell the threat of an arms race beyond Earth's atmosphere.
While the resolution won overwhelming support, there was no shortage of opponents, with Washington and its allies expressing the strongest disapproval. It goes without saying that the Chinese government, while saying it is against the prospect of a space war, says it has set up this system for a "defensive" function, as a reaction. It always starts like this, right?
The implications of a space war
A conflict in space would affect all infrastructure orbiting the Earth. All, plus the ground systems that support them, including rocket launch pads and large radar stations.
The planes would be "blinded". Ships would be lost at sea. There would be chaos in the cities and remote communities would be cut off from the world. Services that we take for granted in everyday life, such as weather forecasts or live international broadcasts, may be interrupted.
And now?
China's introduction of the space warfare system, as mentioned, is not just a matter of national security. It also has a global impact. The militarization of space raises legal and moral questions, and raises the need for new international agreements to prevent a space arms race.
It is clear that after the USA and China, other nations will not stand by and will continue to develop their space warfare system. They will invest in similar technologies, leading to a new kind of arms race, this time in space.
The challenge for the international community will be to balance national security with global stability. We will need to ensure that space remains a frontier of exploration and cooperation, not conflict. I hope so: the last thing we need, after bringing the "terrestrial" war with us, is to drag it into space too.
