NASA Fears China Taking Over Moon: What Did International Space Law Say About This Matter?

China dismissed NASA Administrator Bill Nelson's concern that the country would somehow claim ownership of the moon and prevent other nations from exploring it. While Nelson was very worried about it, such an allegation contradicted the current international space law. So, what exactly was international space law? Could China claim the moon?

(Photo : NASA/Unsplash)
Architectural Photography of Range Hood

China and Scholars' Reaction to the Taking Over the Moon

China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesman Zhao Lijian reacted to Nelson's comment by saying that Nelson was lying through his teeth. This reaction was published in a German tabloid.

In a post by Bloomberg, Zhao stated, "This is not the first time for the NASA chief to lie through his teeth and slander China. In recent years the US openly defined space as a war-fighting domain."

Meanwhile, two space scholars, Svetla Ben-Itzhak and R. Lincoln Hines, said that it is not possible for China to take over the moon because of the limitations and restrictions imposed by the international space law. Itzhak is an Assistant Professor of Space and International Relations, while Hines is an Assistant Professor of West Space Seminar at Air University.

International Space Law on Taking Over the Moon

Under international space law, China is not legally allowed to take over the moon. It stated that no government could claim ownership of the moon and declared it an extension of its national aspirations and prerogatives. It was declared in the 1967 Outer Space Treaty and signed by 134 nations, including China.

However, the treaty has some loopholes that may give a chance to the countries to explore the space beyond the scope of the law.

One of the ambiguous parts of the law is the prohibition of the deployment of nuclear weapons or other weapons of mass destruction anywhere in space. Although it is somehow clear, the scope does not include the employment of conventional weapons or the usage of ground-based missiles against space assets. Furthermore, it is unclear if certain weapons, such as China's new missiles with nuclear capability, are part of the treaty's ban.

Yet, it is important to take note that a military rocket was launched in 1942. Since then, other technologies were launched for military purposes, such as satellites, GPS technology, and the space shuttle.

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Can China Take Over the Moon as NASA Claims?

China has increased its investment in space and spent an estimated US$13 billion in 2020. Yet, it is not likely to happen that China will take over the moon.

Investing money in such an attempt is pricey. The cost of taking over the moon would be substantially more than the price of traveling there. Sustaining the effort to conquer it would require a considerable amount of money.

China would not only be challenged on the budget but also in conquering it. The moon has a surface area of almost five times Australia's area. Controlling it would only be localized and temporary.

The country would also need to make an effort to take control of particular lunar regions for human survival, including the lunar craters with more water ice. The hydrogen and oxygen from the water ice, or ice on the moon, could be a good component in creating rocket fuel.

Taking over the moon could also pose a lot of risks, including breaching the treaty. By breaching international law, China would run the risk of further damaging its reputation and maybe provoking sanctions. It is not a good payoff for shelling out for the moon invasion.