China downs satellite with ballistic missile

The US criticised China today for conducting an anti-satellite weapons test in which an old Chinese weather satellite was destroyed by a ballistic missile.

“The US believes China’s development and testing of such weapons is inconsistent with the spirit of cooperation that both countries aspire to in the civil space area,” National Security Council spokesman Gordon Johndroe said. “We and other countries have expressed our concern to the Chinese.”

US intelligence agencies believe China conducted the test on January 11.