Strategy for International Cooperation in Planning the Chinese Space Station

Abstract

The ultimate challenges facing the People’s Republic of China (PRC) and the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) are how to domestically maintain the power of the state while increasing individual liberties; and facilitating its international rise while avoiding direct confrontation as it is expanding global influence. Within the past decade, China has experienced a steady progression of technology resulting in prestigious accomplishments for the manned space program. To reassure the world of its benign rise China is seeking collaboration in the exploration and utilization of outer space. This paper provides a critical examination of the technology and politics of the Chinese Space Station (CSS) endeavor and investigates areas of conflict that could potentially affect China, such as spheres of influence, status and prestige, resource competition, and fundamental disagreements over the international system. I argue that only if it can be effectively managed as a platform for international cooperation and global leadership CSS can achieve subsidiary benefits for the Chinese government in domestic and foreign policy. In building a prosperous socialist society China must use science, technology, education, and culture as means for achieving political ends. However, inviting international partners in the process of constructing and operating a space station presents an expansively demanding policy problem. China must determine if there are tangible benefits associated with different scales and scopes of space station cooperation. The key policy problem is finding a model that is effective for fair and rational cooperation based on mutual benefit, transparency, reciprocity, and cost sharing, while striking a balance with partners over ownership, intellectual property, and utilization rights. Through first hand professional and cultural experience in China and translations of various Chinese academic journals I construct an analytical assessment of PRC space activities and recommend effective strategies to support scientific and technological innovation for intentional cooperation on CSS.