China's Missile Test Strains Relations with U.S.

Jan 19, 2007— -- China grabbed headlines this week when it used a missile to shoot down one of its inactive weather satellites. The explosion demonstrated China's growing space and military credentials and proved to the world that it had the ability to take down any of the many low-flying satellites that orbit Earth.

It also grabbed the attention of the U.S. government, which worries that China now has the ability to shoot down American satellites, thereby crippling the U.S. global positioning and telecommunication systems, or even U.S. spy satellite networks.

After the test was conducted, the State Department summoned the Chinese ambassador to the United States to protest the action in person.

In an exclusive interview with ABC News, the man who met with the Chinese ambassador, Undersecretary of State for Arms Control and International Security Robert Joseph, explained why the United States was so anxious.

"We believe very strongly that space should be reserved … for peaceful action," Joseph told ABC News.

A State Department spokesman said today that the United States is wary that China's test was anything but peaceful.

"We don't want to see a situation where there is any militarization of space," deputy spokesman Tom Casey said.

"This is an issue that I think is of general concern not only to us but to the broader international community," Casey said.

"This test was a wake-up call," Joseph said. "The message is we are vulnerable in space and we need to defend ourselves and protect our assets."

Joseph was quick to put to rest any speculation that China's test would spark any sort of arms race in space. The United States. and Russia were previously the only countries with this ability, but the United States last conducted a similar test in 1985.

"We are not thinking about developing the same type of capability, but we are taking measures," Joseph said.

The Chinese Foreign Ministry was also quick to douse talk of a space arms race, saying, "We do not take part in any kind of space arms race."

However, Joseph conceded that space is not immune to global politics back on Earth.

"Space is a contested environment," he said.

In his meeting with the Chinese ambassador, Joseph voiced U.S. anger at the tests, but questions remain whether this test was part of a new Chinese program and whether China will heed demands that it not conduct similar activities in the future.

"I'm sure that the Chinese do understand our concerns," Joseph said, although he refused to describe details of his meetings.

Tuesday's meeting will not be the last discussion between the United States and China on this issue, Joseph promised.

"We intend to pursue this issue and make clear the inconsistency between their public policy" and their actions, he said.