Asian Space Race: Rhetoric or Reality?

Ajey Lele

Group Captain Ajey Lele (Retd.) was a Senior Fellow at the Manohar Parrikar Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses and headed its Centre on Strategic Technologies. He started his professional… Continue reading Asian Space Race: Rhetoric or Reality? read more

About the Book

This book explores the character and contours of the Asian Space Powers. At present, Asian states like China, Japan and India are found investing in space technologies with analogous social and scientific and probably with divergent military intents. Other Asian states like Israel, South Korea and Malaysia are also making investments in the space arena. States like Iran and North Korea are faulted for using space launches as a demonstrative tool to achieve strategic objectives. This work examines this entire maze of activities to unearth where these states are making these investments to accomplish their state-specific goal or are they also trying to surpass each other by engaging in competition. Explaining why and how these states are making investments towards achieving their socio-economic and strategic mandate this book infers that the possibility of Asian Space Race exists but is presently fairly diminutive.

Contents

Part I Introduction

1. Structure of the Book
2. Concept of Asia and Relevance of Space Technologies
   What Is Asia?
   Asian Context
   Political Patronage for Technology Development
   Scientific and Technological Pragmatism
   Growth of Technology in Asia
   Relevance of Space Technologies for Asia
   The Space Era and Asia
   Space Power
   Key Asian Space Players
   References

Part II Asian Space Narratives

3. West Asia’s Investments in Space Technologies
   Iran
   Israel
   Other States
   References
4. Pakistan’s Space Capabilities
   Space Plan
   Technology Revolution
   Assessment
   References
5. India’s Space Programme
   References
6. East Asia’s Space Agenda
   North Korea
   South Korea
   Taiwan
   References
7. China’s Space Programme
   Assessment
   References
8. Japan’s Space Programme
   Organisational Structure
   Launch Vehicles
   Satellite Systems
   Space Indigenization and the US Policies
   Change in Space Policy
   Scientific Experiments and Interplanetary Missions
   Assessment
   References
9. Space Investments: Southeast Asia
   Indonesia
   Malaysia
   Vietnam
   Other States
   References

Part III Strategic Implications of Space Technologies

10. Missile and Nuclear Conundrums
    Nuclear Pierce
    Concealed Missile Ambitions
    Missile Defence
    MIRV
    Assessment
    References
11. Satellite Navigation and Asia
    History
    Present Generation Systems
    Asian Navigational Systems
    Japan
    China
    India
    United Nations, Asia and Navigational Network
    Appraisal
    References
12. Deep Space Agenda
    Walking the Moon Since the 1960s
    Asian Moon Missions
    China
    Japan
    India
    ComparingMissions of Big Three
    Mission Instruments
    Deep Space Networks
    Mission Output
    Moon for What?
    Asian Mars Missions
    Strategic Significance of Deep Space Agenda
    Assessment
    References
13. Militarisation andWeaponisation
    Prelude
    Asia’s Security Milieu
    Space Militarisation
    India
    China
    Japan
    Israel
    Other States
    Space Weaponisation
    Assessment
    References
14. Space Shuttle and Space Station
    Background
    Japan
    China
    India
    Assessment
    References
15. Space Power Soft Power
    Soft Power: A New Dimension of Power Dynamics
    Soft Power Relevance of Space Technology
    China’s Soft (Space) Power Persuade
    Assessment
    References

Part IV Conclusion

16. Future of Asian Space Powers
    Foretelling the Future
    Drivers of Space Programme
    Power Dynamics
    International Cooperation
    Tool for Socioeconomic Development
    Ballistic Missile Capability
    Deep Space Missions
    Economics
    Strategic Factors
    Other Important Drivers
    Scenarios
    Space Power as Soft Power
    Moon Still Not in Reach
    Wild Card: Star Wars
    Appraisal
    References
17. Scrutinising the Race
    References
    Index

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