The U.S. Space Force’s top officer delivered a stark warning to Congress about China’s rapidly advancing space capabilities and their potential impact on a future conflict in the Indo-Pacific region. Speaking before the U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission on April 3, Gen. Chance Saltzman emphasized that space has evolved into a crucial battlefield domain where China poses significant threats to American interests.
During his testimony, Saltzman highlighted how China has made substantial investments in both kinetic and non-kinetic counter-space weapons over the past twenty years, specifically designed to compromise U.S. satellite capabilities. The Space Force commander noted that China’s focused approach to developing these capabilities stems from their concentrated attention on the Western Pacific theater, contrasting with America’s need to maintain a global military presence.
The general’s written testimony revealed that Chinese military doctrine views counter-space operations as a strategic tool to prevent U.S. intervention in regional conflicts. Among China’s growing arsenal are ground-to-space missiles and laser systems capable of interfering with satellite sensors. Saltzman projected that by the mid-to-late 2020s, these laser systems will likely be powerful enough to cause physical damage to satellite structures.
Current Chinese military exercises regularly incorporate jamming technology targeting space-based communications, navigation systems, and radar capabilities. Intelligence suggests that China is working to expand its jamming capabilities to affect a broader spectrum of frequencies, including protected U.S. military
extremely-high-frequency systems.
Saltzman cited a 2022 incident where China demonstrated its satellite manipulation capabilities by using a robotic arm-equipped satellite to relocate a defunct navigation satellite to a graveyard orbit. He emphasized that such dual-use technology could potentially be weaponized to capture enemy satellites. The general also reported observations of Chinese experimental satellites conducting unusual maneuvers in geostationary orbit, suggesting practice for potential space combat operations.
Chinese space activities are particularly concerning due to their rapid technological advancement, stated ambition for dominance, and disregard for international space conduct norms, according to Saltzman. He emphasized that China’s efforts to counter U.S. space capabilities in the Indo-Pacific region threaten not only American military assets but also those of allied nations and commercial partners.
The general’s testimony comes at a time of heightened tensions between the United States and China regarding trade policies and tariffs. The Space Force commander emphasized that modern military operations must account for the space domain, stating that protection of space assets and denial of adversary capabilities are crucial for achieving military objectives across all domains.
Saltzman’s warnings underscore the evolving nature of military competition in space and its critical importance to national security. He characterized China’s space program as a “powerful destabilizing force” that poses significant risks to both U.S. economic interests and security capabilities. The ability to maintain effective space operations while countering potential threats has become increasingly vital to military success, particularly in scenarios involving potential conflicts in the Western Pacific region, including Taiwan.
The testimony highlights the growing recognition among military leaders that space-based capabilities are fundamental to modern warfare and that China’s advancing space program represents a significant challenge to U.S. military superiority. As both nations continue to develop their space capabilities, the competition in this domain appears set to intensify, with potentially far-reaching implications for global security and military operations.