Legal Issues of China's Possible Participation in the International Space Station: Comparing to the Russian Experience

• Author: Yun Zhao
• Position: Associate Professor of International Law at the University of Hong Kong
• Pages: 155-174

China’s Participation in ISS 155

VI JEAIL 1 (2013)

Yun Zhao∗

China has made great achievements in space activities in recent years. While

emphasizing the principle of self-independence, China also acknowledges the

importance of space cooperation. As early as 2001, China indicated its interest

in joining the International Space Station. However, no substantive progress

has been made concerning China󼚩s participation thus far. This may be a result of

political and economic, rather than legal and technical, considerations. There is no

doubt that China󼚩s participation shall contribute to the sustainable development

of the ISS. China󼚩s participation could also offer an excellent opportunity to

reexamine the 1998 framework and clarify or improve certain provisions that exist

in the current regime. While technologically ready for participation, China should

start considering possible legal issues that may arise from its participation in the

ISS project. This article takes up the challenging task of identifying potential legal

issues that may arise in the course of China󼚩s participation in the ISS and offers

suggestions for a future cooperative legal framework regarding the ISS.

Keywords

International Space Station, Space Cooperation, Inter-Governmental

Agreement, Outer Space Treaty

Legal Issues of China󼚩s

Possible Participation

in the International Space

Station: Comparing to the

Russian Experience

∗Associate Professor of International Law at the University of Hong Kong. LL.B. (CUPL), LL.M. (CUPL/Leiden),

Dr.iur. (Erasmus). This article stems in part from a paper presented at the International Astronautical Congress 2011

at Cape Town, South Africa during October 3-7, 2011. This research was supported by the HKU Seed Funding

Program for Basic Research. The author may be contacted at: zhaoy@hku.hk / Address: Cheng Yu Tung Tower,

Faculty of Law, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong.

2013-05-27 󱹙󲻹 2:23:00

156Yun Zhao

1. Introduction

The International Space Station (󼚬ISS󼚭), an excellent example of multilateral space

cooperation, is the largest and most complex manned space cooperative project in

the human history.ermanently manned multi-use facility in low Earth orbit (󼚬LEO󼚭)



1

The Partner States contribute



in the ISS. Various researchers have indicated the importance of the ISS in not only



development of space laws.

2

China has made great achievements in space activities in recent years. It has

developed a concrete plan for space exploration in order to build national space

station by 2020.

3

While emphasizing the principle of self-independence, China also

acknowledges the importance of space cooperation.

4

Bilaterally, China has reached

cooperation agreements with many countries; multilaterally, China hosts the Asia-

󼚬APSCO󼚭).

5

Since 2001, China has indicated its interest in joining the ISS.

6

While the

United States vetoed China󼚩s participation early on, China󼚩s rapid technological

development and international cooperation with regard to outer space activities have

led to increased cooperation between the two countries. President Barak Obama󼚩s

visit to China in 2009 resulted in a press release announcing Chinese-American



7

Recently, the European Space Agency (󼚬ESA󼚭)

also indicated its support for China󼚩s inclusion in the ISS.

8

All these positive

1L. Myers, The International Space Station: Canada’s Involvement, available at http://dsp-psd.pwgsc.gc.ca/

Collection-R/LoPBdP/CIR/875-e.htm (last visited on Apr. 6, 2013).

2The Intergovernmental Agreement for the International Space Station was considered the latest space law treaties

to enter into force. See C. Petras, “Space Force Alpha”: Military Use of the International Space Station and the

Concept of “Peaceful Purposes,” 53 A. F. L. REV. 160 (2002).

3See China Planning Space Station Launch in 2010, Redorbit (Oct. 27, 2010), available at http://www.redorbit.com/

news/space/1938804/china_planning_space_station_launch_in_2020 (last visited on Apr. 6, 2013).

4INFORMATIONOFFICEOFTHE STATE COUNCILOFTHE PEOPLE’S REPUBLICOF CHINA, CHINA’S SPACE ACTIVITIESIN 2006 (2006).

5See the official website of the Asia-Pacific Space Cooperation Organization, available at http://www.apsco.int (last

visited on Apr. 9, 2013).

6Staff Writer, China Eyes Entry to ISS Project, SPACE DAILY, May 1, 2001, available at http://www.spacedaily.com/news/

china-01zd.html (last visited on Apr. 6, 2003). See also C. Covault, China Seeks ISS role, Accelerates Space Program,

155(20) CHINESE SPACE POWER 52 (2001).

7SeeA China-USA Space Co-operation Programmes?, ENJOY SPACE, Nov. 18, 2009, available at http://www.enjoyspace.

com/en/news/a-china-usa-space-co-operation-programme (last visited on Apr. 6, 2013).

8Staff Writer, China May Become Space Station Partner, SPACE TRAVEL, Jun. 2, 2010, available at http://www.space-travel.

com/reports/China_May_Become_Space_Station_Partner_999.html (last visited on Apr. 6, 2013).

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