Fri. Mar 29th, 2024

A high-level United States official has said on Tuesday India’s anti-satellite missile test (ASAT), which was carried out last month was directed towards China directly and could also escalate rivalry with Beijing, further underlining that New Delhi must now brace itself into space competition.

According to news reports, Tata Chair for Strategic Affairs and senior fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace Ashley J Tellis said, “The Indian ASAT test was in actuality a shot across the bow to China. As such, it will only exacerbate the rivalry with Beijing, even if only silently.”

He added, “India, therefore, must brace itself for a long-term space competition. If it fails to do so, it will have to contend with the worst of both worlds: heightened threats from China in the face of increasing Indian vulnerability.”

While asserting India must brace itself fully now for a long-term space competition, Tellis said that would be an “unenviable position” for New Delhi as it seeks to play a larger role on the global stage.

He said China is now developing its counter-space program in a retaliatory move to the US and that India is threatened by Beijing programme. He added India needs to improve its space capacity rather than rising Chinese threats, while also standing on its commitment to protecting the space for civilians.

 

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