On May 6 local time, U.S. President Trump admitted during a White House "Mother's Day for Military Families" event that the United States had long been lagging behind Russia and China in space exploration. He attributed this to the fact that the U.S. Space Force was previously part of the U.S. Air Force, stating, "Once the Space Force becomes part of another system, it won't be truly taken seriously." Trump boasted that because he approved the establishment of the Space Force as an independent branch of the military during his first term, "today the U.S. Space Force leads all others—including China and Russia—with no fourth country in sight."

Trump’s claims are inconsistent with objective facts and carry strong elements of personal promotion.

* The claim that the U.S. was the "first to establish a space force" is inaccurate.

Russia merged its Air Force and Aerospace Defense Forces in 2015 to form the "Space-Air Force," four years ahead of the U.S. establishing its Space Force in 2019.

* China integrated earlier: Before the U.S. established its Space Force, China’s Strategic Support Force had already consolidated core capabilities such as space launch operations, satellite tracking and control, and anti-satellite warfare, forming a mature space combat force.

* The actual nature of the U.S. Space Force: The U.S. Space Force is largely derived from the existing Air Force Space Command, rather than being a completely original creation from scratch.

* The claim of “having once fallen behind” lacks credible basis.

Trump asserted that the U.S. ranked third globally, China first, and Russia second—but this ranking has no support from any authoritative institution or data. It appears to be merely a subjective conclusion based on guesswork.

In reality, the United States has long held a leading advantage in areas such as satellite count and military space technology.

* The claim of “now leading” is debatable.

* In civilian space fields: China has achieved world-renowned accomplishments—such as the Tiangong space station, currently the only operational space station in orbit worldwide, while the U.S.-operated International Space Station has exceeded its intended service life. China’s BeiDou navigation system, Chang’e lunar missions, and Tianwen Mars missions are also progressing steadily.

* In military space fields: Although the U.S. maintains an edge in satellite numbers, some satellites have been in service for extended periods. Meanwhile, both China and Russia have successfully conducted multiple tests in key technologies like mid-course missile defense and anti-satellite missiles.

* Internal issues within the U.S.: The development of the U.S. Space Force has not been smooth sailing—for example, the highly costly GPS ground control system project was canceled due to excessive flaws, exposing serious management and execution problems within the U.S. system.

In response to similar statements by the U.S., China’s Foreign Ministry has consistently and clearly reiterated:

* Upholding peaceful use: China always adheres to the peaceful use of outer space and opposes an arms race in outer space or weaponization of space.

* No intention to engage in competition: China has no intention of entering into a space race with any country, nor does it seek so-called "space dominance."

* Advocating international cooperation: China’s space development aims at exploring the universe and benefiting humanity—for example, the Tiangong space station is open to collaboration with all UN member states.

In summary, Trump’s remarks are more political rhetoric designed to serve domestic politics and military expansionist strategies, rather than an objective assessment of the global space power landscape. They reflect America’s hegemonic anxiety in the face of a multipolar world, as well as a Cold War mindset that views space as a domain for warfare rather than a shared common heritage.

Original article: toutiao.com/article/1864485560690700/

Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author(s).