USA: Washington and Australia's Foreign Minister Alexander Downer express concern over China's satellite missile test

Record ID: 1525960

  • Title: USA: Washington and Australia's Foreign Minister Alexander Downer express concern over China's satellite missile test
  • Date: 20th January 2007
  • Summary: (SOUNDBITE)(English) AUSTRALIAN FOREIGN MINISTER ALEXANDER DOWNER SAYING: "Our position on that (China missile issue) is that we're waiting to hear back from the Chinese government, from the ambassador in Canberra, and the foreign minister in Canberra, and the foreign minister in Beijing on what is behind this story, what the trust is, what actually happened but the information we have is that a missile was fired at an old Chinese weather satellite, and destroyed the satellite, and so we would like to hear what China has to say about it, but so far, as of now, I haven't heard back from them." TAPE RECORDER (SOUNDBITE)(English) AUSTRALIAN FOREIGN MINISTER ALEXANDER DOWNER SAYING: "The risk here - the use of weapons like this is that it risks a couple of things. First of all, the destroyed satellites causing damage to other satellites so there is a practical issue there. If you want to destroy a satellite, then blowing it up by that method is likely to damage other satellites, and satellites are enormously expensive equipment. Secondly, it's well known satellites have important military applications so it raises questions about the whole militarization of outer space. Over and above what capabilities already are in existence, we don't want to see an extension of the militarization of outer space. The Chinese have always opposed the militarization of outer space, that's why we're looking forward to hear what they have to say about the issue." JOURNALISTS
  • Embargoed: 4th February 2007 11:09
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Usa
  • Country: USA
  • Topics: International Relations
  • Reuters ID: LVAAF185XZBG7DQQMBACB1M9OIE6
  • Aspect Ratio: 4:3
  • Story Text: Concern is growing over China's satellite-killing missile test. Australia, for one, says its eagerly awaiting China's response to the first known experiment of its type in more than 20 years.

    Concern is growing over China's satellite-killing missile test -- the first known experiment of its type in more than 20 years.
    Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer, who is in the United States to promote Australian tourism and investment opportunities, is also expressing concern and caution about China surprise testing.
    He discussed his meeting with the new United Nations secretary-general Ban Ki-moon with journalists in New York Friday (January 19) and then said Canberra was eager to hear China's response to its satellite-killing missile test.
    "Our position on that (China missile issue) is that we're waiting to hear back from the Chinese government, from the ambassador in Canberra, and the foreign minister in Canberra, and the foreign minister in Beijing on what is behind this story, what the trust is, what actually happened but the information we have is that a missile was fired at an old Chinese weather satellite, and destroyed the satellite, and so we would like to hear what China has to say about it, but so far, as of now, I haven't heard back from them," he told reporters.
    On Thursday, Downer had said the United States should be optimistic about China, and work on its ties with Beijing and not exaggerate the dangers of the rise of the Asian giant.
    Downer said while he believed the United States had done a good job so far on managing its relationship with China, there were still many Americans -- including members of Congress -- who viewed the Asian giant as a threat to Washington.
    The United States says China used a ground-based ballistic missile to shoot apart an ageing weather satellite on January 11, scattering debris that could damage other satellites and raising risks of escalating military rivalry in outer space.
    A Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman declined to confirm or deny the incident, but said Beijing wanted no arms race in space. "We certainly are concerned by any effort, by any nation, that would be geared towards developing weapons or any other military activities in space," U.S. State Department spokesman Tom Casey said.
    "That's absolutely contrary to what our, again, policy, as articulated by the White House, states. So, we have raised our concerns with the Chinese government, we have done so both here in Washington and in Beijing. I think you've seen comments from the Japanese government as well as from Australian Prime Minister Downer (Downer is actually Australia's Foreign Minister - ed) and I think several other governments as well, raising these same issues. We don't want to see a situation where there is any militarization of space," Casey added.
    U.S. concerns have been echoed by Australia, Canada, and Japan, which has become increasingly concerned about its giant neighbour's rising military strength.
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