After the Pentagon issued a new policy that makes space a "priority domain of national military power," China accused Washington of seeking to militarize outer space. 

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman, Mao Ning, spoke to reporters at a Wednesday briefing regarding Washington's directive in a newly-released document that it may start military operations in space. 

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“For a long time, the US has openly defined space as a war-fighting domain. It has built the US Space Force and Space Command, developed and deployed space-based offensive weapons, conducted offensive and defensive military exercises and technology tests, and intensified military cooperation with its allies,” Mao said, stressing that “this has heightened the risks of military miscalculation and conflict.”

The spokesperson, furthermore, accused Washington of blocking a "space arms control initiative" which was led by Russia and China, further increasing the possibilities of "turning outer space into a weapon and battlefield."

According to the new US directive, the Pentagon should “protect and defend the use of space for US national security purposes,” as well as “deliver advanced space capabilities to deter conflict and, if deterrence fails, to counter and defeat aggression.”

Regarding the document, Mao stressed that its implications pose "a grave challenge to the peace and security of outer space,” and “fully exposes the US ambition of increasing military build-up and war preparedness… in outer space.”

“The US should respect the shared concerns of the international community, immediately stop the negative moves that could undermine security of outer space, step up to its due responsibilities and stop hindering negotiations for a legal instrument on arms control in outer space,” she added.

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