Review of Chinese Space Policy a Study in Domestic and International Politics

 Title :               Chinese Space Policy A Study in Domestic and International Politics

Author :           Roger Handberg and Zhen Li

Publisher:        Routledge

                        270 Madison Avenue,

New York, NY 10016

ISBN:              0-415-36582-1

Authors Roger Handberg and Zhen Li portray a convincing and informative description of the current state of commercial, defense, and national aspects of the space industry in “Chinese Space Policy A Study in Domestic and International Politics.” It is a grim tale of shared profits, cost constraints, political tensions with the bottom line hopes of many for human expansion into space somewhat quashed.

The authors do an excellent job of painting the difficulties involved in fighting through Earth’s gravity to orbit and beyond including the costs of programs, the complexity of the equipment and difficulties in engineering.

What makes “Chinese Space Policy” a unique read is the balanced approach to the subject of national space programs and showcases both the United States and Chinese view of the defense issues related to space policy. The reader is also given information about Soviet, Hindi, Japanese, Brazilian and others interests in going to the moon, Mars and for research on various space bodies, providing satellite launch capabilities and satellite services, and in remote sensing activities used both for scientific data provided to various communities but also for defense as well as for manned space activities. A comparison of the involvements of various parties is shown in a number of graphs about payload launches and revenues, showing a changing trend since the Space Shuttle Challenger accident when United States payloads and revenues diminished.

Covered in Chinese Space Policy is the history of the Chinese Space program from the 1950’s until current times. China’s defense policy is based on the need to protect itself from threatens on all borders. Their watchful analysis of the superpower conflict between the former Soviet Union and the United States is conveyed. This is understandable. As is China’s desire to be party to the International Space Station efforts. The authors show that the inability of the Chinese government to compromise on a variety of issues such as Taiwan, Japan, territorial boundaries belies those gestures that paint them as friendly.

The next few years as China and maybe the United States consider proceeding to the moon with various plans in mind should add additional fuel to the subject of Chinese and United States relationships and the changing demographics of both countries’ economies.

Overall, this is a thoughtful work with plenty of information to digest.