Publication

This brief, which looks at the civilian portion of the Chinese space program, argues that Beijing sees the program as a can’t-miss opportunity to burnish its soft power credentials. The Chinese leadership, in other words, isn’t necessarily fixated on just demonstrating its technological or military superiority in space. It also wants to demonstrate China’s capacity for ‘visionary leadership,’ which specifically involves putting a man on the moon. That this type of leadership is usually the domain of Great Powers should not be lost on anyone here.