US space force warns of China’s advance in military operations in the space

The deputy chief of US space force, General Michael Guetlein, said the difference in spatial capabilities between the United States and its competitors is decreasing.

The statement was made in an interview released by the Specialized Portal Defenciaone, in which the officer warned of the advance of other powers in the sector, especially China’s performance.

According to Guetlein in 2024, the US Armed Forces identified five Chinese satellites by coordinating maneuvers in the earth’s orbit. The general classified these operations as a form of space military training.

“This is what we call air combat in space. They are practicing tactics, techniques and procedures to perform spatial operations in orbit from one satellite to another,” he said.

According to the general, these activities show that US strategic competitors are adopting new methods of operation in the space environment, approaching the level of capacity previously considered exclusive to US space forces.

Guetlein noted that the technological distance between the United States and other countries in this domain was already significantly higher.

“The gap in spatial capacities between the United States and its closest competitors in space is decreasing,” he said.

The officer warned that if there is no change in Washington’s strategic approach, this difference could completely disappear, with impacts on US superiority in the sector.

The statements of the US space force deputy chief reflect the increase in US government’s attention to geostrategic competition in space.

The theme has been treated as a priority in the National Defense and Security documents, which indicate space as an operational domain of critical importance.

Still in 2023, China’s state communication vehicles reported that the country had developed a space simulation system capable of predicting combat dynamics.

According to the developers, the system was tested during a classified space mission, with results considered satisfactory by the Chinese authorities.

Spatial operations have become a relevant component of military capabilities in various countries. The mastery of the terrestrial orbit involves communication, surveillance, navigation and defense activities, with both civil and strategic applications.

The technological advance of countries such as China and Russia has been carefully observed by military analysts. The presence of satellites with multiple functions and ability to perform orbit maneuvers is considered an indicator of the evolution of defense spatial systems.

The Chinese government, in turn, has expanded its presence in space through manned missions, interplanetary probes and expansion projects of the Tiangong space station. Chinese spatial policy also includes investments in artificial intelligence and operational simulations.

Russia, which maintains consolidated performance in spatial operations since the Soviet period, has criticized western initiatives in the sector.

Moscow accuses the United States and its allies of conducting actions aimed at the militarization of space. The Russian government argues that the spatial environment remains free of weapons and conflicts, as treated in several diplomatic statements.

International bodies currently discuss the establishment of rules to avoid offensive use of outer space. However, there is no global consensus on verification mechanisms and technical limits that define the boundaries between civil and military applications of spatial technologies.

The United States established in 2019 the creation of space force as an independent branch of the Armed Forces, with a specific focus on the defense of assets in orbit and in the development of new technological abilities.

Since then, the country has increased investment in satellites, sensors and surveillance platforms to ensure operational advantage in conflict scenarios.

The perception that strategic rivals are accelerating its modernization in the sector led the American command to review operational plans and reinforce partnerships with civil agencies and private companies. The goal is to ensure continuous access to space and expand the resilience of critical systems.

Guetlein stated that the current scenario requires changes in the approach adopted by the United States in relation to spatial domain. According to him, the maintenance of superiority in the sector will depend on the ability to adapt to the new dynamics of technological competition.

The warning made by the officer integrates a broader set of analysis of emerging challenges in the field of space security.

Experts consider that the advancement of military operations in orbit represents a new element of strategic dissuasion, with a direct impact on the global balance of power.

With information from Sputnik