China has issued a warning to Donald Trump and the United States after the president announced his plans for a future 'Golden Dome' missile defence programme.
Trump outlined his ideas for the latest defence plan from the Oval Office in the White House on Tuesday (May 20), telling reporters that he hopes to move quickly on the idea which will put US weapons in space for the very first time.
The goal of the Golden Dome is to help the US to intercept missiles - 'even if they are launched from space', the POTUS explained.
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General Michael Guetlein, who currently serves as the vice chief of space operations, will be in charge of overseeing the progress of the Golden Dome, which is set to cost $175 billion dollars.
What is the Golden Dome?
Following warnings from the Pentagon about the new, advanced missiles developed by China and Russia, the focus of the Golden Dome is to both detect and stop missiles at four specific stages:
- Before a launch
- During the earliest stage of flight
- In the middle of their course
- In the final minutes as they approach a target
Planners at the Pentagon have spent months coming up with options for interceptors, with one US official cited by the PA News Agency explaining that they came up with 'medium, high and extra high choices' based on cost, with differences varying on satellites, sensors, and space-based interceptors.
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The Congressional Budget Office has estimated that space-based components of the programme alone could cost as much as $542 billion over the next 20 years, with Trump requesting an initial $25 billion for the programme.
What has China said about the Golden Dome?
After news of Trump's plans came to light, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning issued a warning on the implications and potential outcomes of the Golden Dome.
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Mao said the Golden Dome carries 'strong offensive implications', and increases the risk of outer space becoming militarized.
On top of that, Mao said it also heightens the risks of an arms race.
The spokesperson said: "The United States, in pursuing a 'US-first' policy, is obsessed with seeking absolute security for itself. This violates the principle that the security of all countries should not be compromised and undermines global strategic balance and stability. China is seriously concerned about this."
Mao went as far as urging Washington to abandon the development of the Golden Dome altogether.
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Why does the US need the Golden Dome?
Since China and Russia have already put offensive weapons in space, including satellites that can disable critical US satellites, the US has been left vulnerable to attack.
General Chance Saltzman, head of the US Space Force, has said that the Golden Dome and its weapons 'represent new and emerging requirements for missions that have never before been accomplished by military space organizations'.
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However, Air Force Secretary Troy Meink has said the programme is 'still in the conceptual stage' for the time being.
Topics: Donald Trump, China, Politics, Military
Emily Brown