[Reading Science] Forward Deployment of Space Force to USFK... "Check China"

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Bong-su] A space force unit equipped with the capability to monitor and counter hostile satellites and other space objects will be established within the US Forces Korea. This move has drawn particular attention as it comes amid China's active space advancements and North Korea's launch of intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) capable of reaching the entire United States.

According to space-focused media SpaceNews on the 22nd (local time), the US military has begun forward-deploying space forces worldwide to respond to provocations by China in the space domain. On this day, an official unit was established and began operations within the Indo-Pacific Command based in Hawaii. The US military also plans to establish a space force branch within the US Forces Korea in South Korea within a few months, and intends to deploy space forces to the Central Command and European Command as well.

Thompson, Deputy Commander of Space Force Operations, stated, "The Indo-Pacific Command increasingly requires space capabilities such as satellite navigation, communications, and missile warning, and the Space Force will play a crucial role in supporting these needs." He explained, "The official establishment of the Space Force branch in Hawaii is the first case of an overseas deployed unit and was made in response to the rise of China, which is strengthening its power in space."

Deputy Commander Thompson also said, "Every day, Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin reminds us that we are facing challenges from China," adding, "Secretary of the Air Force Frank Kendall keeps saying 'China, China, China'."

The United States possesses the world's largest space assets, including missile early warning satellites, reconnaissance and surveillance satellites, military encrypted communication satellites, and satellite navigation systems (GPS). These are core means for both economic utilization and national security. Recently, China and Russia have been actively developing measures to undermine these assets, such as anti-satellite missiles, jamming devices, laser attack weapons, and offensive spacecraft and satellites, prompting countermeasures. Particularly, there is alarm over China’s successful experiment in February, when it launched Shijian-21 and moved a malfunctioning domestic satellite to a "satellite graveyard orbit." If China uses this satellite to attack US space assets, there would be no chance to respond effectively.

Anthony Mastalir, Commander of the Space Force Indo-Pacific Detachment, said at the inauguration ceremony, "Space enhances the range and destructive power of our weapons, enabling us to reach adversaries and project force at the time and place of our choosing. We must maximize the combat power of the Indo-Pacific Command by joining forces with the Space Force, intelligence agencies, and private companies."