China is trying to strengthen its position in the space sector by making nearly two dozen agreements with African countries, which is moving forward with the aim of indirectly surpassing the United States. In addition to increasing its strategic impact in Africa, China is building a global surveillance network through space technology, satellite launch and observation infrastructure. The information came out in a special report by the news agency Reuters.
A state -of -the -art space laboratory was established in the vicinity of Cairo. This was supposed to build the first local satellite in Africa. However, when entering the laboratory, the effect of China is more visible. Various satellite materials and equipment arrive in Africa from Beijing to a wooden box. Chinese scientists and Egyptian engineers kept an eye on space observation in the lab.
Egypt claims that they are launching their first satellite in December 2021. However, it was originally built in China and it was launched from Beijing's space center.
China is working to establish a global observation network in Africa through space technology to establish their domination in space. However, China has publicly declared many space assistance. However, they do not publicly discuss the data and images that Beijing is collecting from African countries.
China has given Egypt a variety of space technology, which has two very powerful telescopes, a new space observation center and two surveillance satellites. Egypt launched another satellite from China in 2021, with military surveillance capacity.
The satellite facility is part of a large project called 'Space City'. It is being built about 5 km east of Cairo, near the new administrative capital of Egypt. The project is being implemented under Egypt's President Abdel Fattah al-CC.
In addition to Egypt, China is operating a space project. China has established 20 bilateral space partnerships in Africa, including several projects, including construction of satellite and space stations. In the past one year, Egypt, South Africa and Senegal have agreed to partner with the future Chandrajan project with China, which is a rival to the US space plan.
In a meeting with leaders of different African countries in Beijing in September, Shi Chinping announced that satellites, lunar expeditions and deep space exploration will be given priority for China's $ 1 billion loan and investment for Africa.
The Shi administration publicly says they are helping to strengthen the African space program. Because China does not want any country to fall behind.
However, China is secretly gaining more through its investment. These include surveillance data collected through satellite and telescopes.
Nicholas FTMIES, an expert on the US Defense Department and the Chinese Space Project, said China is creating a global observation network through it, which will help strengthen its dictatorial power.
China is strengthening its space relations with Africa where the US cooperation is declining. Sweden and Australia have canceled the Chinese space station-related agreement between 20 and 2021. Because they think they can create risks for the political situation.
China is strengthening relations with countries through technology in Africa, but the United States is lagging behind. Under the Billionaire Elon Musk Trump's government, the federal government was trying to narrow the USAID, its first goal. The Pentagon said Chinese space projects in Africa are creating risk for security. Because China can collect sensitive data there and increase its military power. However, the space observation tools that China are setting up in Africa are being used not only in military work, but also in environmental observation and space travel. These include a powerful telescope, which can help monitor the US military satellite.
Meanwhile, Chinese space ground stations in Ethiopia and Namibia can also be used in combination of military activities and monitoring space resources from other countries.
The United States is taking warning against China's space investment in Africa. However, the United States is unable to take considerable steps to prevent China's activities. A space -related US policy has clearly proposed any cooperation for African countries.
Reuters interviewed more than 5 people on China's project to understand the expansion of space technology in Africa. These include diplomats, space engineers, consultants and military and intelligence officers. In addition, hundreds of patents and papers published by the Chinese government and military agencies have been reviewed by Beijing's space program.
