New study examines China’s planetary defence as a foreign policy tool
China’s planetary defence programme is becoming an increasingly important part of its foreign and security policy, but its participation in international cooperation remains limited. In their new study, IIR researchers Nikola Schmidt and Jan Švec, together with Timna Michlmayr, analyse how Beijing uses planetary defense to strengthen its image as a responsible power at home and abroad, while simultaneously advancing its national security interests.
Planetary defence is often understood primarily as a scientific and technological effort to protect Earth from potentially hazardous asteroids. A new study by Nikola Schmidt, Timna Michlmayr, and Jan Švec demonstrates that, in China's case, it has also become an important instrument of foreign and security policy. Drawing on Chinese primary documents, UN records, and semi-official materials, the authors provide the first systematic analysis of China's planetary defence programme from a geopolitical perspective.
The study argues that Beijing presents planetary defence as a contribution to global safety and international cooperation, while simultaneously pursuing broader strategic objectives. According to the authors, China's approach is characterised by three recurring patterns: using planetary defence to project the image of a responsible global power, engaging selectively in international cooperation, and protecting sensitive dual-use technologies through limited transparency.
The full study is available here.
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