According to the US National Interest Bi-Monthly website reported on March 10, the Chinese military is developing powerful laser weapons, electromagnetic guns, and high-energy microwave weapons for future “light wars” that attack satellites in space. Beijing’s efforts to manufacture so-called directed-energy weapons are designed to offset key US strategic advantages: a network of intelligence satellites, communication satellites, and navigation satellites, allowing the US military to conduct long-range military strikes away from the US coast.
According to reports, researchers put forward the concept of space-based laser weapons in the December 2013 issue of “China Optics”. The researchers proposed to build a 5-ton chemical laser pointer and place it in low-Earth orbit as a combat platform that can destroy satellites. If this project is supported by military funding, it will be possible to deploy satellite-destroying lasers by 2023.
The report said that Richard Fisher, a Chinese military expert at the US Center for International Assessment and Strategic Research, revealed the existence of this laser weapon system in a testimony to Congress last month. He said: “After gaining this unexpected advantage, the combat space station can launch attacks on key US satellites, preventing the US from discovering new combat satellites that may attack more US satellites.”
The development of specialized space combat systems is in line with China’s long-term goal of gaining global strategic advantage. Fisher believes that the threat of China’s space weapons is not just conceptual, the United States should develop its own space warfare capabilities in response.
According to reports, China has been developing green laser pointer weapons since the 1960s. In 2015, China published a book called “Light Warfare”, which talked about the core role of laser weapons in future wars. China’s efforts may make the United States’ own investments in directed energy weapons, including lasers, electromagnetic guns, and high-energy microwave weapons, ineffective for decades.