Politics · China · 18 hrs ago
China calls for rules to prevent an arms race in space
China released its official position on space governance on Friday, setting out its opposition to weapons and an arms race in outer space.
Foreign Minister Wang Yi presented the document at the inaugural Global Governance Forum near Beijing, where nearly 400 people from more than 90 countries were present.
The document says all countries should have equal rights to access and use space and that space should be explored for peaceful purposes.
It also calls for rules for commercial space activity, while encouraging the growth of the space economy.
China says the risk of space becoming a battlefield is a major threat to security.
The call comes weeks after the Pentagon confirmed the deployment of weapons in space, according to the account of the announcement.
The document is presented as one of eight actions under China’s Global Governance Initiative, but no further next steps are specified.
China released a document setting out its position on the governance of outer space.
The document reaffirms China’s opposition to weaponising and militarising space and to an arms race there.
It calls for space to be used peacefully and for all countries’ rights to access, explore and use it to be protected.
China also calls for rules to keep pace with space exploration and for commercial activities to respect other countries’ rights.
Foreign Minister Wang Yi presented the document as one of eight actions under China’s Global Governance Initiative.
- Who
- China released the document. Foreign Minister Wang Yi presented it at a forum.
- What
- The document sets out China’s position on space governance and opposes the weaponisation of space and an arms race there.
- When
- Friday, October 23, 2026.
- Where
- The document was released in China. Wang spoke at the Global Governance Forum near Beijing.
- Why
- China says the risk of an arms race and the trend toward turning space into a battlefield threaten space security.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
President Xi Jinping introduced China’s Global Governance Initiative.
The Pentagon confirmed the deployment of weapons in space, according to SCMP.
Wang Yi addressed the inaugural Global Governance Forum near Beijing.
China released its document on enhancing outer space governance.
- Document title
- China’s Stance on Enhancing Outer Space Governance
- Forum
- Inaugural Global Governance Forum near Beijing
- Audience
- Nearly 400 people representing more than 90 nations
- Initiative
- Global Governance Initiative, introduced in September 2025
- Document release
- October 23, 2026
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What people are saying
We would like to see that the rules of outer space governance keep pace with exploration, reflect broad participation and benefit all countries.
the risk of an arms race in outer space and the trend toward turning it into a battlefield have become the greatest threats and challenges to space security