China is stepping up its space program in recent years, and is now able to provide low-cost satellite launch services to international customers. In 2018, China conducted 38 successful launches, sending about 100 satellites into orbit. This year, China is expected to carry out more than 40 launches, according to the USCC. On May 5, China launched the Long March 5B rocket, bringing a new unmanned spacecraft into space. This is part of a separate space station building program to compete with the US and Russia. Meanwhile, the US Air Force on May 17 successfully launched the X-37B unmanned spacecraft into orbit. This is the 6th launch of X-37B to perform a new secret mission.
According to reports, the Chinese army has started training with anti-satellite missiles. The Chinese army now possesses ground-based electronic countermeasures, which can obstruct an opponent’s satellite to communicate, locate, search and rescue, early missile warning, according to US experts.