China-Latin America Space Cooperation: An Overview
As China has increased its political and economic cooperation with Latin America, it also expanded its space engagement with the region.
China space program
The Strategic Implications of China’s ‘Divine Dragon’ Spaceplane
In December 2023, China launched its Shenlong (Divine Dragon) military spaceplane. The craft was designed by the China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology (CALT). China had previously tested experimental orbital spaceplanes in September 2020 (lasting two days) and August 2022 (which lasted 276 days). The current mission is still in progress. Last December, the spaceplane … Read more
Another Launch for China’s Reusable Space Plane
Outer space continues to be drawn into both technological advancements and geopolitical competition. On December 14, China launched a reusable space plane for the third time on a Long March 2F rocket from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center. A Xinhua News report said that the space plane was launched in order to run various space … Read more
China’s Space Program in 2023: Taking Stock
As we come to the end of 2023, it is an apt time to revisit China’s priorities for its space program. In President Xi Jinping’s speech at the 20th Party Congress in October 2022, space infrastructure was identified as a critical component of the Chinese Communist Party’s legitimacy. Space is also integral to China’s strategic … Read more
Long March 9 Rocket Will Be a Game-changer for China’s Space Program
Advertisement SpaceX’s Starship spacecraft and super heavy rocket – the gleaming stainless steel rocket envisioned as a “fully reusable transportation system” – dominates the global news landscape. Starship has a lift capacity of 150 metric tonnes to low earth orbit (LEO) in its reusable version, and 250 metric tonnes in its expendable version. Much depends … Read more
The Strategic and Geopolitical Significance of India’s Chandrayaan 3 Lunar Mission
Advertisement India’s Chandrayaan 3 mission has been a focus of discussions across the globe since it landed successfully on the Lunar South Pole on August 23. The timing of the landing had both strategic and geopolitical implications. At the time of the landing, India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi was attending the BRICS summit in Johannesburg, … Read more
China and Strategic Instability in Space
Advertisement The Diplomat author Mercy Kuo regularly engages subject-matter experts, policy practitioners, and strategic thinkers across the globe for their diverse insights into U.S. Asia policy. This conversation with Dr. Carla Freeman – senior expert on China at the United States Institute of Peace (USIP) and co-author of USIP report “China and Strategic Instability in … Read more