Expressing concern over the proposed Golden Dome missile defence shield of the US, China urged Washington to abandon the $175 billion project as setting it up would violate the principle of peaceful use of outer space as advocated by the Outer Space Treaty.
Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning pointed out that Golden Dome is a global, multi-level, multi-domain missile defence system that openly seeks to expand outer space-based combat capabilities of the US.
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Mao warned that if the US continues to go ahead with the project, it will trigger an arms race, undermining international security and arms control frameworks.
Mao accused the US of pursuing an "America First" policy at the risk of diminishing the security of all other countries, leading to the collapse of global strategic balance and stability.
"We urge the US to abandon its development and deployment of a global missile defence system and take concrete steps to enhance strategic mutual trust among major powers and safeguard global strategic stability," Global Times quoted Mao as saying.
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The space-based weapons envisioned for Golden Dome represent new and emerging requirements for missions that have never before been accomplished by military space organisations, Gen. Chance Saltzman, head of the US Space Force had lawmakers on Tuesday.
In February, while reacting Golden Dome plan of the US, a spokesperson at the Chinese Ministry of National Defense had urged the country to "abandon its Cold-War mentality, stop playing up the so-called threats of other countries, and stop provoking military confrontation."
