A lead editorial in the Chinese English-language daily Global Times, which often reflects the thinking of the Chinese government, used the occasion of the April 24 launch of the Shenzhou-20 crewed spaceship, carrying three astronauts on a “six-month journey into space,” to propose broad international collaboration on space activities.
The Global Times editorial, headlined “Through China’s Aerospace Endeavors, We See an Ocean of Stars Made Possible by Humanity’s Collaboration,” stated that “China’s space program has demonstrated over more than half a century that Earth’s gravity cannot constrain humanity’s dream-chasing strides, nor can blockades halt China’s path of independent innovation.” They added that “that these blockades did not stop China; instead, they have compelled China to accelerate its efforts in independent innovation.”
The lesson to be learned, they wrote, is that “whether in high-tech or economic arenas, ‘small yard and high fence’ or ‘decoupling and supply chains disruption,’” is a losing strategy. “The charm of China’s space program lies not only in its technological breakthroughs but also in its openness to cooperation as a major country…. Some of humanity’s greatest achievements, including space exploration, are often the result of collaborative efforts. Relying on individual efforts and creating closed and exclusive ‘small circles’ will ultimately not lead to significant advancements.”
The editorial concluded: “Guided by the concept of building a community with a shared future for mankind, China’s space endeavors are destined to go further and welcome more partners along the way. The vastness of space does not belong to any one country; the brilliant stars shine with the light of multilateralism.… We hope that relevant countries can set aside prejudices, abandon zero-sum games, and uphold the principles of openness, cooperation, and sharing, working hand in hand with China to promote the development of human space endeavors. Let the Shenzhou spacecraft carry the dreams of all humanity, flying higher and farther.”
