The United Kingdom will increase its ability to deal with threats posed by Russia and China in space as part of a government foreign, security and defense policy review, Defense Secretary Ben Wallace said.
“This week has reminded us of the threat Russia poses to our national security with provocative evidence of a satellite-like projectile threatening the peaceful use of space,” Wallace wrote in The Sunday Telegraph newspaper, adding that China also posed a threat.
“China is also developing offensive space weapons and both nations are improving their capabilities. Such behavior only underscores the importance of the review that the government is currently carrying out,” he added.
On Thursday, the United Kingdom said it was concerned about a Russian satellite test involving the launch of a projectile with the “characteristics of a weapon”.
Tensions between London and Moscow have been high in recent weeks, as the UK has targeted the Russians with new sanctions, accused Russian actors of trying to meddle in last year’s elections, and said Russia has attempted to hack the vaccine research.
Separately, the United Kingdom announced on Monday that it would suspend its extradition treaty with Hong Kong in an escalation of a dispute with China over the introduction of a national security law for the former British colony.
Earlier this month, Prime Minister Boris Johnson ordered China’s Huawei Technologies team to be fully purged of the UK’s 5G network by the end of 2027.
China, once courted as the main source of investment in British infrastructure projects, has accused the United Kingdom of pleasing the United States.
The Mail on Sunday newspaper reported that Johnson was also willing to revise the UK’s treason laws to counter the threats posed by China and Russia, with the likely move of seeing a new Treason Law, a new Espionage Law and a new drafting of the Official Secrets Law.
SOURCE:
Reuters news agency
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