spacetoday.net: US, other countries condemn China ASAT test

US, other countries condemn China ASAT test

Posted: Fri, Jan 19, 2007, 7:22 AM ET (1222 GMT)
The United States and several other countries formally protested Thursday a Chinese test of an anti-satellite (ASAT) weapon last week, while the Chinese government remained silent about the event. The magazine Aviation Week reported Wednesday night that a ground-launched Chinese ASAT hit and destroyed an aging Chinese weather satellite in polar orbit on January 11, leaving a cloud of debris. US officials confirmed that the test took place and condemned the event. Several other countries, including Australia, Canada, Japan, and South Korea also protested the test. Chinese officials declined to comment on the event, and there were no reports about the event in state-run media there.