China, Russia warn against weapons in space after US confirms orbital arms

China and Russia on Tuesday warned against the weaponisation of outer space after the United States confirmed for the first time that it has weapons deployed in orbit.

A US Space Force spokesperson said the US has “on-orbit space control weapons” capable of defending its forces against hostile actions. The statement did not specify the number or type of weapons deployed.

It said space control capabilities include kinetic and non-kinetic means to affect an adversary’s space capabilities and can be used for offensive and defensive purposes. Non-kinetic capabilities could include lasers capable of disrupting satellites and electromagnetic or cyber systems that interfere with data links.

China’s foreign ministry opposed the move, warning against turning space into a “battlefield” and an arms race. Spokesperson Guo Jiakun urged Washington to stop expanding its military capabilities and preparing for war in outer space.

Russia also called for space to remain “free of any weapons”. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said Moscow was seeking broader international support for the “complete demilitarisation of space”.

Analysts said the US announcement confirmed what had long been considered an open secret but warned that making the capabilities public could increase tensions between Washington and Beijing and fuel a space weapons race.

The US Space Force considers China and Russia potential threats to American interests in space. It said China is developing space and counterspace capabilities as part of its military modernisation, while Russia views space as a warfighting domain.

The militarisation of space dates to the Cold War. The 1967 Outer Space Treaty prohibits nuclear weapons and other weapons of mass destruction in orbit, but does not ban all conventional weapons or other military capabilities in space.

Space law expert Laetitia Cesari said this had created a “regulatory vacuum”. She said the issue could be discussed at a UN disarmament meeting in November.

China and Russia have pushed for a treaty preventing the placement of weapons in space, while Western countries have generally promoted rules on responsible behaviour. Cesari said the US announcement could strengthen support for the more restrictive approach.