Not surprisingly, the Pentagon is extremely worried about possible Chinese ASATs, and the threat that such weapons would pose to U.S. military superiority. The most recent Pentagon report on Chinese military power warns that "China is said to be acquiring a variety of foreign technologies which could be used to develop an active Chinese ASAT capability." The report also warns that, at the outset of a conflict, "the PLA would attempt to weaken U.S. or other third party's resolve by demonstrating the capability to hold at risk -- or actually striking -- high-value assets. The PLA would seek to leverage emerging asymmetric capabilities to counter or negate an adversary's superiorities."

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Lewis, Jeffrey. What if Space Were Weaponized? Possible Consequences for Crisis Scenarios. Washington, D.C.: Center for Defense Information, July 2004. [ 16 quotes ] [ page 19 ]