A senior U.S. Space Force official said that China remains the primary threat to the United States in space, and is "surprising in its speed" in catching up with the U.S. military's space capabilities.

Gen. Douglas Schiess, commander of the U.S. Space Force's Space Command, told reporters at the annual Air Force and Space Force Association meeting held in National Harbor, Maryland, on Wednesday: "They are continuously enhancing their capabilities, and although it's not daily, at least monthly, which puts our assets at risk."

A tourist takes a photo of a replica of a space launch rocket at the 2021 China Air Show

"China is undoubtedly our biggest threat," he said. Schiess said the Chinese were building a "kill chain," or an attack process, to target U.S. naval, land, and air forces, "at distances we have never seen before."

"They are using space to further increase these distances," Schiess explained. "In addition, they are enhancing their anti-space capabilities, which in turn puts our assets at risk."

Space Force intelligence indicates that the Chinese military may view anti-space operations as a way to deter and counter U.S. military intervention in regional conflicts. Bradley Bowman, senior director of the Center for Military and Political Power at the Defense Democracy Foundation, said China's activities in space are one of its "most concerning" military actions.

"Space is the ultimate high ground. Space enhances our intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance (ISR) and targeting capabilities. In other words, it is our best eyes and ears.

If our adversaries have stronger ISR capabilities, as well as stronger space-based ISR and targeting capabilities, and take away this high ground from us, it will be very, very dangerous," he said Thursday to the Military Times.

Bowman said if the Chinese military could destroy or surpass the U.S. space-based capabilities, it would lead to reduced early warning of threats and more difficult operational actions.

Bowman said, "When you put all these together, it could lead to failure in a battle or war." Schiess said the U.S. military must continue to launch more satellites, including intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance satellites, to protect its forces.

According to the latest space threat briefing released by the U.S. Space Force intelligence department, as of July 2025, China had more than 1,189 satellites in orbit, an increase of about 927% since the end of 2015.

Among them, more than 500 are satellites capable of intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, equipped with optical, multispectral, radar and radio frequency sensors. The Space Force said this has enhanced China's ability to detect U.S. aircraft carriers, expeditionary forces and air wings.

Original: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7554634715366425122/

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