China's recent advancements in space travel and the "rapid growth in their military capabilities" have leading U.S. Air Force officials worried, The Washington Free Beacon reports.
Air Force Secretary Heather Wilson and Chief of Staff Gen. David Goldfein spoke before the Senate Armed Services Committee on Tuesday, where they identified China's progress in space as a top concern.
"Some of the work they're doing in space, it's very aggressive. We built our space architecture in an era when space was a rather benign domain," Goldfein said.
"We're very focused on taking some bold moves in this budget to increase our ability to defend what we have in space."
When asked about the so-called "Space Corps" by Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, D-N.H., Wilson said: "We are open to discussing ideas that people have in this realm. I think the most important thing is not the organization, but what we actually do and that is to defend ourselves … and make clear to any adversary that if they take us on in space, we will prevail."
She added that her biggest concern "is the innovation of China and their rapid growth in their military capabilities," according to Stars and Stripes.
"We are building a more lethal and a more agile force and I think this fiscal year '19 budget has a significant commitment to be able to defend ourselves on orbit," Wilson continued.
"I feel that the United States is the best in the world at space and our adversaries know it.… They are developing the capabilities to deny us the ability to freely operate in space in crisis or war. This budget represents an alignment to the American leadership."
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