China denied an allegation from NASA’s chief that the communist nation might seek to “take over” the moon for its military.
Chinese officials called the accusation an irresponsible smear, according to a report, and said it has always sought to foster a community of nations in space.
The communist nation has made great strides to enhance its space programs in the last 10 years, and exploration of the moon has become a primary focus of the Chinese.
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China succeeded with its first lunar uncrewed landing in 2013, and it hopes to launch rockets capable of putting its astronauts on the moon before 2030, according to the report.
“We must be very concerned that China is landing on the moon and saying: ‘It’s ours now, and you stay out,'” NASA Administrator Bill Nelson said in an interview published Saturday regarding Chinese progress.
China’s space program is rooted in its military, and the nation is known for stealing ideas and technology, according to Nelson.
Chinese officials rejected Nelson’s warning.
“This is not the first time that the head of the U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration has ignored the facts and spoken irresponsibly about China,” Zhao Lijian, a spokesman at the Chinese foreign ministry, said.
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“The U.S. side has constantly constructed a smear campaign against China’s normal and reasonable outer space endeavors, and China firmly opposes such irresponsible remarks.”
