China’s Military Space Capabilities and Its Implications for India

Abstract

China’s rapid advancements in space-based capabilities from surveillance and communications to navigation and earth observation, are just not competing against but are also challenging the American supremacy in outer space. With a strong military dimension to its space programme, China aims to make itself combat-ready in fighting an informationised and intelligentised warfare’ as China sees space as a critical domain in international strategic competition. This makes it imperative to understand the nature of China’s space programme, the use of space for Chinese military operations and its implications for other countries.