Chinese Role in the Regional Space Security Cooperation and APSCO

Yang Mingjie, CICIRApril 2007 Tokyo

History of Chinese Space International Cooperation

Before 1977, China was isolated from the world in the field of space cooperation

From 1977, China entered the international space community by sending delegations to France, the United States and Japan

From 1985, China began to give services to the international space industries by putting the Long March( Changzheng) rockets series into the world space service market

From 1992, China began to discuss the formation of the Asia Pacific Multilateral Space Cooperation Organization with regional countries such as Pakistan and Thailand etc.

From 1993, China becomes much more positive in the international multilateral space cooperation such as the International Space Assembly

Driving Factors for China to enter the International Space Cooperation

Space Strategy: Peaceful Using of the Outer Space and Regarding the space policy as an important part of the overall national development strategy

Technical Requirement: Hi-tech, Hi-risk and Hi-cost

Self Confidence and international responsibility

Guiding Principles

The Chinese government holds that international space cooperation should follow the fundamental principles listed in the "Deceleration on International Cooperation on Exploring and Utilizing Outer Space for the Benefits and Interests of All Countries, Especially in Consideration of Developing Countries' Demands," which was approved by the 51st General Assembly of the United Nations in 1996. China adheres to the following principles while carrying out international space cooperation:

Guiding Principles - The aim of international space cooperation is to peacefully develop and use

space resources for the benefit of all mankind.

- International space cooperation should be carried out on the basis of equality and mutual benefit, mutual complementarity and common development, and the generally accepted principles of international law.

- The priority aim of international space cooperation is to simultaneously increase the capability of space development of all countries, particularly the developing countries, and enable all countries to enjoy the benefits of space technology.

- Necessary measures should be adopted to protect the space environment and space resources in the course of international space cooperation.

- The function of the United Nations Office of Outer Space Affairs (OOSA) should be consolidated and the outer space application programs of the United Nations should be backed up.

Fundamental Policies Independence -- Adhering to the principle of independence and taking the init

iative in our own hands, carrying out active and practical international cooperation in consideration of the overall, rational utilization of domestic and international markets and resources to meet the needs of the national modernization drive.

United Nationalism-- Supporting activities regarding the peaceful use of outer space within the framework of the United Nations. Supporting all inter- governmental activities for promoting the development of space technology, space application and space science as well as those conducted between non-governmental space organizations.

Regionalism-- Attaching importance to space cooperation in the Asia-Pacific region, and supporting other regional space cooperation around the world.

Multilateralism-- Reinforcing space cooperation with developing countries, and valuing space cooperation with developed countries.

Multi-mechanism--Encouraging and endorsing the efforts of domestic scientific research institutes, industrial enterprises, institutions of higher learning, as well as social organizations to develop international space exchanges and cooperation in different forms and at different levels under the guidance of relevant state policies, laws and regulations.

Developments of International Cooperation in the Previous Five Years

Over the past five years, China has developed bilateral space cooperation with a host of countries. It has successively signed 16 international space cooperation agreements and memorandums with13 countries, space agencies and international organizations, and propelled multilateral cooperation in space technology and its application in the Asia-Pacific region and the process of establishing a space cooperation institution for the region. China has joined relevant activities sponsored by the United Nations and other relevant international organizations, and supported international space commercial activities.

Developments of International Cooperation in the Previous Five Years

Bilateral cooperation: Over the past five years, China has signed cooperation agreements on the peaceful use of outer space and space project cooperation agreements with Argentina, Brazil, Canada, France, Malaysia, Pakistan, Russia, Ukraine, the ESA and the European Commission, and has established space cooperation subcommittee or joint commission mechanisms with Brazil, France, Russia and Ukraine. It has signed space cooperation memorandums with space organizations of India and Britain, and has conducted exchanges with space-related bodies of Algeria, Chile, Germany, Italy, Japan, Peru and the United States. For example:

*To collaborate with Brazil on the Earth resources satellite program

* Under the mechanism of the Sino-French Joint Commission on Space Cooperation, the exchanges and cooperation between the two countries have made important progress in space science, Earth science, life science, satellite application, and satellite TT&C

* Within the framework of the Space Cooperation Sub-Committee of the Committee for the Regular Sino-Russian Premiers' Meeting, a long-term cooperation plan has been determined. In addition, exchanges and cooperation in the sphere of manned spaceflight have been carried out, including astronaut training.

Developments of International Cooperation in the Previous Five Years

Multilateral Regional Cooperation: In October 2005, the representatives of China, Bangladesh,

Indonesia, Iran, Mongolia, Pakistan, Peru and Thailand signed the Asia-Pacific Space Cooperation Organization (APSCO) Convention in Beijing, and in June 2006 Turkey signed the Convention as well. APSCO will be headquartered in Beijing. This marks a significant step toward the official establishment of APSCO.

China continues to promote the Asia-Pacific Region Multilateral Cooperation in Small Multi-Mission Satellites Project. Together with Bangladesh, Iran, the Republic of Korea, Mongolia, Pakistan and Thailand, China has started the joint research, manufacture and application of small multi-mission satellites, to be launched in 2007.

Developments of International Cooperation in the Previous Five Years

Multilateral International Cooperation: China takes a positive part in activities organized by the United Nations

Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (UN COPUOS) and its Scientific and Technical Subcommittee and Legal Subcommittee. China has acceded to the "Treaty on Principles Governing the Activities of States in the Exploration and Use of Outer Space, Including the Moon and Other Celestial Bodies," "Agreement on the Rescue and Return of Astronauts, and on the Return of Objects Launched into Outer Space," "Convention on International Liability for Damage Caused by Space Objects," and "Convention on the Registration of Objects Launched into Outer Space," and strictly fulfils its responsibilities and obligations.

China has actively participated in activities organized by the Inter-Agency Space Debris Coordination Committee, started the Space Debris Action Plan, and strengthened international exchanges and cooperation in the field of space debris research.

The Future of APSCO

Limitations and Challenges: Some regional space powers are still outside of the mechanism and mutual CBMs in the space is so limited

Opportunities: The positive intentions from the United States as well as Japan

Space cooperation and trust between these two nations are gradually being reestablished. Before the

launch of Shenzhou VI, the United States volunteered information to the Chinese space program on space debris and U.S. spacecraft activities. China responded with details about Shenzhou VI. In 2006, the mutual visits by the leaders of the space authorities of the two countries expressed their wills to enhance the space cooperation.

In March 2007, the Director General Director of the LDP of Japan made a lecture in China Central Party School to give the possibility for the Sino-Japanese space cooperation

Thanks