# Global Power Dynamics in the Contemporary Space System
## 4 System Actors--Space Powers
### Major Space Actors
#### 4.2.2 People's Republic of China  
The People's Republic of China's engagement in 20 th-century space-related activities was minimal. Despite the ambitious efforts of [PERSON] to launch an artificial satellite into space, it was not until April 1970 that China became the fifth nation to do so. However, under the leadership of [PERSON], who exhibited a keen interest in science and technology, China established the foundation for ambitious space programs that would become prominent in the late 20 th century. In the contemporary era, the People's Republic of China's space program has undergone substantial expansion, emerging as a prominent contender in the global arena and posing a substantial challenge to the United States' preeminence [23; 24; 27]. Despite the fact that China initiated its ascension into the space sector in the 1990s, the nation was disregarded as a significant space actor. It was considered to have an underdeveloped space program that could not contribute to the creation of the International Space Station. The relationship between the United States and China has become increasingly distrustful, and, ultimately, the Wolf Amendment passed by the United States Congress in 2011 marks a crossroads in the geopolitical dynamic between the two countries. The U.S. has expressed concerns regarding the use of American intellectual property by China and the use of Anti-satellite weapons (ASAT) weapons. The American legal framework imposes restrictions on NASA's capacity to engage in direct, bilateral cooperation with China. These restrictions are imposed by the FBI and include a prohibition on the use of government funds for such cooperation. Additionally, the legal framework restricts China's involvement in the International Space Station (ISS). These decisions have made collaboration between the two countries all but impossible, have fueled U.S.-China competition, and have discouraged international cooperation. Since the 1990s, China has prioritized the development of its manned space program, following a \"three-step development strategy\" prescribed by the Chinese government. This strategy aims to culminate in the construction of a space station and the execution of long-term missions in the 21 st century. After this initiative, China has cultivated a robust and multifaceted space program, encompassing the development of its own communications, weather, reconnaissance, and navigation satellites [26]. China has successfully launched the Lunar Exploration Program, also known as Chang'e, and a manned spaceflight program that allowed the nation to become the third country to launch a human being into orbit in 2003. The country has also constructed its own space station, Tiangong, which was completed in 2022 with a permanent crew. Furthermore, China has initiated a new planetary program and an extended agenda of international cooperation with countries all across the world. The strategic planning of space development has been a central pillar of China's broader national strategy since the early 21 st century. Since the year 2000, the nation has published a space policy document at five-year intervals, in which they articulate their principles, policies, actions, and decisions pertaining to international cooperation. Most recently, on 28 January 2022, China released a comprehensive white paper, titled \"China's Space Program: A 2021 Perspective\", which delineates the nation's plans and priorities for the subsequent five years of space travel and exploration [47]. This document marks the fifth five-year space exploration plan that China has unveiled, following similar releases in 2000, 2006, 2011, and 2016. In November 2012, [PERSON] assumed the role of President of the People's Republic of China, becoming the paramount leader of the country. Since then, China has considered outer space as a critical factor in its internal economic development and its efforts to challenge the United States' global leadership.