China warns US space weapons could fuel arms race

Following the United States' first official admission of deploying offensive weapons in space, the Chinese government has warned it to immediately halt its military expansion in space. Chinese state media and military experts have strongly criticized the US's actions, stating that they are preparing for space warfare and could ignite a global space arms race. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning stated at a press conference on Tuesday that China firmly opposes turning space into a zone of conflict and deploying weapons, and urged the US to practically halt its military expansion in space for the sake of global strategic stability. This development stems from statements made by US Air Force Secretary Troy Melton. Melton had explicitly admitted on Monday that the US has deployed weapons in space to defend its forces from enemy attacks, but did not provide details on the types of weapons. China's state-run Global Times newspaper criticized Washington's actions as highlighting the US's desire to dominate outer space and pushing the world towards a space arms race. Chinese military observer Song Zhongping pointed out that the US has escalated tensions from previously relying on defending space infrastructure and ground-based systems to now directly deploying weapons in orbit, creating pressure on other countries with no choice but to respond. China's Xinhua News Agency commented that the US's deployment of weapons in space has created a new security dilemma and is pushing other countries to enhance their offensive capabilities.