China’s space ambitions face ‘huge test’ from Musk presence in Trump White House

Chinese observers say Beijing needs to stick to its own milestones and avoid getting into a race with the US if possible

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SpaceX CEO Elon Musk on stage at a campaign rally for Donald Trump during the US presidential election campaign. Photo: AFP

Orange Wangin BeijingandEnoch Wongin Hong Kong

Published: 5:00pm, 13 Nov 2024Updated: 8:35pm, 13 Nov 2024

Tech mogul Elon Musk’s potential weight in the second Donald Trump administration is likely to accelerate the US space programme and pose a “huge test” to China’s extraterrestrial ambitions, Chinese observers said.

The SpaceX founder and CEO has been flagged to lead a new “department of government efficiency” when Trump takes office in January, but is also expected to influence Washington’s space policies.

Space has increasingly emerged as a battleground in the intensifying geopolitical competition between the world’s two largest economies, which are also the top two defence spenders on the planet.

The rivalry appears to be extending beyond scientific discovery and commercial innovations to leadership in the interstellar arena, raising concerns over potential strategic posturing in the orbital domain.

Analysts said Beijing needed to maintain its strategic focus and avoid getting into a space, hi-tech or arms race with the US.

Instead, China should continue with its aerospace projects as planned, while learning from the strengths of SpaceX and seeking cooperation with the US where the two powers could work together in the field, they said.

During his first presidency, Trump launched Space Force – a stand-alone branch of the armed forces – and signed a directive instructing Nasa to return the US to the moon and reach Mars.