With China aligned with a Russia that could have access to Chinese funding we may see a space exploration entity far ahead of even NASA.
This is one Bush's biggest fears. Only China will not be acquiring U.S. space technology but rather Russian space technology which could be even more advanced than the U.S.
The US space policy toward China is carefully designed to block any channel of cooperation fearing the Chinese would acquire U.S. space technology through such contacts, he told the audience.
Personnel from the China Aerospace Science and Technology Cooperation and the Department of General Armament were generally denied visas to visit the United States although some space scientists from the Chinese Academy of Sciences were allow to travel to America, according to Zhang.
The Chinese delegation led by China National Space Administration (CNSA) chief Luan Enjie was not able to obtain visas to attend the World Space Congress in Houston last October. (For this episode, see also Craig Covault, "U.S. snubs China at Space Congress." Aviation Week & Space Technology, 19 October 2002).
In another case in November 2001, which was not mentioned in Zhang's lecture, the Chinese delegation could not acquire visas to attend the 9th International Space Conference of Pacific Basin Societies held in Pasadena, California although the Chinese Society of Astronautics was one of the three organizations that sponsored the event (other two were: the American Astronautical Society and the Japanese Rocket Society).
Zhang used his personal experience to exemplify American visa officers' tactics regarding visa application by Chinese space scientists. According to his account, when he was applying for a visa to attend a conference in the United States last year, the visa officers told him upon his inquiries that his application was in process. But he was not finally notified until the conference was concluded that his invitation to the meeting was expired.
"The Americans say that whoever control space stations, whoever control the Earth. Currently, the United States and Russia are space technology powers. If China will not develop its space technology independently, they will never give us a place in space. By developing a human spaceflight program, China can aggrandize its national prestige as well as military prowess," Zhang said.
Although astronauts from twenty nations have visited "America's International Space Station," no Chinese has been allowed to be there so far, he said. He also complained that he tried to order eight containers used for holding science experiments in spacecraft, but he could not get any from the United States.
Premier Wen gets oil pledge from Russia (Xinhua) Updated: 2004-09-27 14:50
China and Russia will take measures to implement cooperative projects in oil and natural gas, including the construction of pipelines between China and Russia, says a communique signed by Premier Wen Jiabao and Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Fradkov in Moscow on Friday.
Visiting Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao (C) shakes hands with Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Fradkov (R) after they signed documents including a joint communique on the ninth regular meeting between heads of governments of the two countries in Moscow, Russia, Sept. 24, 2004. [Xinhua] In the communique, the two nations recognized each other's full market economy status. China also reiterated its strong support for Russia's bid to join the World Trade Organization (WTO).
Wen urged the two countries to finalize a long-term inter-government agreement for energy cooperation, and promised to invest US$12 billion in Russia by 2020 in infrastructure construction, energy resources, manufacturing and processing, and high-tech industries.
The Russian prime minister also called for a long-term plan of cooperation in oil and natural gas and said more efforts should also be made to develop nuclear energy cooperation.
During his meeting with Premier Wen on Friday, Russian President Vladimir Putin promised that Russia would not change its decision on developing energy cooperation with China.
The communique also says that the two sides will strengthen cooperation in building nuclear plants, space exploration, new materials, information and telecommunications.
During Wen's visit, the two countries signed seven agreements on education, economy and trade, finance and insurance, the communique says.
Premier Wen returned to China on Saturday after concluding his visit to Kyrgyzstan and Russia. Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing on Saturday hailed Premier Wen's tour as a complete success, saying the visit was fruitful in promoting mutual political understanding, bilateral trade and good-neighborly relationship.
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