US general confirms China’s efforts to discuss space safety amid thawing ties
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China has reached out to the United States to discuss space safety-related issues, according to US Space Command chief Stephen Whiting. Whiting stated that China had contacted the US on two occasions in the past six months. The US has routinely shared data on potential orbit collisions with China, but Beijing did not always respond. The interactions and the specific issues discussed were not detailed in the report. The US has emphasized the importance of international collaboration on orbital data to prevent collisions and expressed a desire for regular sharing of safety data with China. The communication between the two countries on space safety is seen as a positive development amid thawing military ties. Military-to-military communications were restored following a meeting between Presidents Joe Biden and Xi Jinping in November 2023. In October, US and Chinese officials met to discuss space situational awareness data. China's outreach to the US on space safety could potentially lead to cooperation in other areas such as climate change and artificial intelligence.
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