Is China going to set off an arms race in space?

The latest stances of China have not only left the international community bemused but have also made it consider dangers that can be posed by the giant dragon. One of it is certainly India, the country with whom China’s scuffles over “Arunachal Pradesh” (Indian state but being demanded by China also) has spread like a wild fire by now. Now India, it seems, may have to have sleepless nights owing to the hottest remarks of China.

In accordance with the state media, a high-ranking China air force commander has called the militarization of space an "historical inevitability and this indicates the very nation is changing its erstwhile standpoint – opposition to weaponising outer space. As per the comprehensive interview in the People's Liberation Army (PLA) Daily, air force commander Xu Qiliang elucidated that it was crucial for the PLA air force to extend offensive and defensive operations in outer space.

"As far as the revolution in military affairs is concerned, the competition between military forces is moving towards outer space... this is a historical inevitability and a development that cannot be turned back," Xu told the paper. "The PLA air force must establish in a timely manner the concepts of space security, space interests and space development.” "We must build an outer space force that conforms with the needs of our nation's development (and) the demands of the development of the space age."

What makes China focus on this very issue all of a sudden? The only reason is that the pre-eminence in outer space can give a nation hegemony over war zones both on land and at sea in conjunction with a strategic advantage. Xu Qiliang made it clear that such control was necessary to preserve the nation.

What is most striking is that China had long stated that it endorsed the passive utilizations of external space and was in opposition to the introduction of weapons there. Beijing has also sought after to set up an international treaty to control the deployment of weapons in space.

Why is China taking an alternative oath then? Is it just to admonish others or set off an arms race in space? Is China depicting the covert desires of its erstwhile Manchu dynasty instead of Communist ethics?