Washington, DC – Congressman John Culberson (TX-07) sent the following letter to President Obama regarding NASA Administrator Bolden’s upcoming meeting with the China National Space Administration in Beijing:
Dear Mr. President:
I have just been made aware that NASA Administrator Bolden will be traveling to Beijing, China, this week to begin a dialogue on human space flight cooperation between NASA and the China National Space Administration (CNSA). I have grave concerns about the nature and goals of China’s space program and strongly oppose any cooperation between NASA and CNSA’s human space flight programs without Congressional authorization.
Until now, the United States’ involvement with the Chinese space program has been limited to a single Earth science research project. Because of the military nature of China’s space program, Congress has set limitations on cooperation and discussions on human space flight collaboration, particularly without adequate consultation with Congress. Last November, the Washington Times reported that Chinese air force commander Gen. Xu Qiliang said, “competition between military forces is now turning toward the realm of space, [and] military modernization is ceaselessly expanding into space.” Statements like this, along with the numerous hostile actions conducted by China in space, are alarming and bring into question the motivations of China’s space program.
Earlier this year I raised my strong concerns about cooperation with China and offered an amendment to the House FY11 Commerce-Justice-Science Appropriations bill that would prohibit any federal funds from being used to develop or plan any collaboration activities with China unless such activities were specifically authorized by Congress. Similar legislative proposals have been offered by other Members of Congress as well.
Considering that Congress has raised concerns about and set limitations on cooperation with China, I do not believe it is appropriate for the Administrator to meet with any Chinese officials until Congress is fully briefed on the nature and scope of Mr. Bolden’s trip and planned discussions on cooperation.
Sincerely,
John Culberson
Member of Congress
To view a PDF version of the letter, please click here.
Dear John,
I am 100% in agreement with your position on this matter. China has made a huge technological leap through the transfer of thechnology-(some of it done illegaly- as in stolen–some naively given away by us and some just plain “sold out” during the Clinton administration particularly- but also under Bush–and apparently now being planned again).
My work as an executive director of an NGO specializing in safety and security in remote-high risk areas takes me around the world and I have some experience with Chinese activities and methods. To summarize-they have only one goal–to obtain much needed resources and new technology from anywhere–under any conditions–with total disregard for international regulations and laws, ethics–and in constant competition with us. They have no scuples, back evil dictators when they see it in their interests, make huge payoffs that further corrupt officials in countries around the world, extract valuable resources and sell back junk when they can–with total disregard for safety, workers rights, product safety and reliability and liability (they do this especially in 3d world countries -to people who can do little about it).
They behave this way with an arrogance that defines their culture–a culture that promegates a belief that they are superior to all others. They use their people like indentured servants–sending them wherever and whenever they want with scant compensation–and with expectations that they act as agents of the State.
They are no friends of ours–however they are a substantial country that must be dealt with and one that we should trade with–in a competative environment–with our interests always coming first. We should also promote ways to wean ourselves from buying their products to the degree that we do–and promote some of the economies friendlier and closer to us (as well as trying to promote our own internal capaqcity) like those in parts of Latin America and Africa.
You have it exactly right Congressman–keep it up.
Lee Kapetanakis