HONG KONG — The Chinese government objected Thursday to the American missile strike against a dying United States spy satellite over the Pacific Ocean, warning that the United States Navy’s action could threaten security in outer space
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Missile Strikes a Spy Satellite Falling From Its Orbit (February 21, 2008) Liu Jianchao, the Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman, said at a news conference in Beijing that the United States should also promptly share data about the passage of the remaining pieces of the satellite, which are expected to re-enter the Earth’s atmosphere and mostly burn up in the next two days.
Later in the day, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates, who personally gave the order to shoot down the satellite, told reporters in Hawaii that he was prepared to share some details of the operation with China to alleviate its concerns that the debris still may prove dangerous.
American defense officials said the missile, launched from an Aegis-class cruiser, had hit the satellite and were optimistic about the likelihood that the impact had destroyed the satellite’s fuel tank.
The fuel tank held 1,000 pounds of toxic rocket fuel that the satellite never used because it malfunctioned soon after reaching orbit in December 2006.
Mr. Liu’s remarks on Thursday echoed his criticisms on Monday of the Pentagon’s plans to destroy the satellite, but this time he added a request for data.
“China is continuously following closely the possible harm caused by the U.S. action to outer space security and relevant countries,” Mr. Liu said, according to The Associated Press. “China requests the U.S. to fulfill its international obligations in real earnest and provide to the international community necessary information and relevant data in a timely and prompt way so that relevant countries can take precautions.”
The Federal Emergency Management Agency in the United States issued advice on Monday for communities on which satellite debris might fall. But American officials said before the missile strike that shattering the satellite in orbit would greatly reduce the risk of dangerous materials reaching the Earth’s surface.
Last week, China and Russia proposed an international pact limiting anti-satellite weapons. The Bush administration opposes such an agreement, and administration officials have contended that Thursday’s missile strike was not an anti-satellite weapon test, but an effort to prevent falling debris from causing damage to populated areas.
American officials were critical of China last year when it used an anti-satellite weapon to destroy a satellite in a much higher orbit in January 2007, and then refused even to confirm the test for nearly two weeks.
The Chinese test left 1,600 pieces of debris that are expected to orbit the Earth for years, preventing other spacecraft from using the same or similar orbits.
Thom Shanker contributed reporting from Washington.作者: bill 时间: 2008-2-22 16:28