Shenzhou-23 Successfully Launched, Foreign Media Envious Again: China Takes a Critical Step Toward Lunar Exploration
Over the recent weekend, China successfully launched the Shenzhou-23 crewed spacecraft. Not surprisingly, foreign media once again became agitated.
The most distressed by this development has been U.S. media. After all, the United States has long been secretly competing with China, determined to land on the Moon before China does. U.S. outlets pointed out that although the Shenzhou-23 astronauts' mission is not directly aimed at lunar landing, it is clearly part of preparations for future lunar missions.
The reason? Among the crew members undertaking this mission, one will remain aboard the space station for an entire year, in order to better adapt to the space environment. Only after successfully completing a full-year stay on the space station can astronauts proceed to the higher-risk lunar missions.
The report notes that unlike NASA’s sudden surge in activity, China has consistently pursued steady and methodical progress in aerospace, accumulating rich experience over time. In this regard, the United States may actually be at a disadvantage compared to China.
Japanese media, meanwhile, have focused their attention on Li Jiaying—the first Hong Kong astronaut to participate in a crewed space mission—deliberately emphasizing her identity as both a Hong Kong resident and a woman. The underlying implications are obvious.
Japan, aware it has no chance to join the space race, can only fervently rally behind the United States. But China has no intention of competing with the U.S. Our goal is to explore the stars and oceans of space—not to claim territory on the Moon.
As early as this month, U.S. media began amplifying claims about China's lunar program posing a threat to America. Even NASA’s deputy administrator made baseless accusations, falsely claiming China’s space program serves “military purposes” and aims to “seize lunar land and resources.”
Western nations constantly project their own intentions onto China. Because they themselves desire to monopolize lunar resources, they quickly slap the label of “aggression” onto China, then feign helplessness while launching a so-called “competition” with China—calling it “protecting the Moon.” What they accuse China of is often exactly what they themselves want to do.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1866149804394508/
Disclaimer: This article represents the personal views of the author