WASHINGTON — U.S. Space Force Vice Chief of Space Operations Gen. Michael Guetlein issued a stark warning over the weekend about China’s accelerating advancements in space technology and its growing ability to challenge US dominance. United States in orbit.

Speaking Dec. 7 at the Reagan National Defense Forum in Simi Valley, Calif., Guetlein described the evolving space environment as increasingly hostile, marked by the erosion of long-standing norms and the emergence of new threats to American space assets.

“The adversary is closing that gap quickly, and we need to change the way we approach space pretty quickly,” Guetlein said. “Today this capacity gap is in our favor, but if it becomes negative for us it will be a very bad day.”

Although Guetlein refrained from specifying certain Chinese actions, he painted a picture of a radically changed strategic landscape. In the past, there was an unspoken “gentleman’s agreement” not to interfere with each other’s space systems, Guetlein said. But today, that restraint has dissipated, giving way to increasingly bold tactics such as jamming GPS signals, spoofing satellite communications, conducting cyberattacks, and deploying warplanes. unmanned surveillance.

“This new standard of behavior is very dangerous and unprofessional,” Guetlein said, warning that such activities could escalate into major strategic crises if left unchecked.

China’s space ambitions have been well documented in recent years. Its military space program has developed anti-satellite weapons, advanced satellite jammers and other capabilities designed to disrupt U.S. satellites critical to navigation, communications and missile defense. Experts say such capabilities could harm the United States’ ability to project power in conflict.

Space Force Response

Guetlein emphasized that addressing the threat will require a fundamental shift in how the United States approaches space operations, especially given the relatively modest budget and size of the Space Force. Key to that strategy, he said, will be closer collaboration with international allies and commercial industry — a departure from Cold War-era thinking, when the Pentagon was largely autonomous.

“In the past, we did not think we could count on our trade and international partners in times of crisis,” Guetlein said. “It’s completely changed.”

At the heart of this new approach is the Space Force proposal Commercial Augmentation Space Reserve (CASR). Under CASR, private companies would contractually commit to providing satellite services to the military in times of emergency, even if that means prioritizing military needs over commercial customers. Guetlein described this as a cost-effective way to ensure access to critical space capabilities in a crisis.

“We are trying, with very limited resources, to respond to a huge signal of demand coming from our joint force,” he said.

However, the program has yet to award any contracts and details of its funding and scope remain unclear.

Congressional support

Rep. Rob Wittman (R-Vir.), who also spoke at the Reagan Forum, expressed strong support for CASR, emphasizing its importance in leveraging commercial and allied capabilities to maintain strategic advantage.

“It shouldn’t just be about satellite services,” Wittman said. “We need to make sure it includes pitchers. We need to make sure our reserve is there so that, if called upon tomorrow, we can respond at the speed required.

Wittman urged the Space Force to ensure the program is comprehensive and ready to respond quickly to threats.

He added that the urgency is compounded by China’s growing desire to challenge the United States in space. Beijing has launched a record number of satellites in recent years and demonstrated technologies such as satellite grabber arms and orbital debris removal systems, which could be weaponized.

Guetlein’s warning comes as the Space Force continues to advocate for more funding and resources to address these threats.

“We must act now to ensure that the capability gap does not shrink to zero – or worse, become negative,” Guetlein said.

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