China denies knowledge of anti-satellite weapons test

A Chinese foreign ministry spokesman said today he was unaware of a reported Chinese anti-satellite weapons test that has drawn a torrent of international criticism and said Beijing was against the militarization of space.

Liu Jianchao told reporters at a Chinese New Year reception that he couldn’t comment on the reports because he had no knowledge of such a test. He said China supported the peaceful use of space.

The January 11 test, first reported by Aviation Week, purportedly destroyed an old weather satellite by hitting it with a kinetic kill vehicle launched aboard a ballistic missile.

The US and Japan criticised the test and expressed their concerns to Beijing. Australia and South Korea have also expressed concern over the test.

But Russian defence minister Sergei Ivanov said he was sceptical about the report.