China has announced plans to send a Pakistani astronaut to its Tiangong space station, marking the first time a foreign astronaut will visit the Chinese orbital facility. The move further strengthens the strategic ties between China and Pakistan, often described as “all-weather allies.”
On Friday, China and Pakistan signed an agreement to collaborate on astronaut selection, training, and eventual space travel. The agreement was formalized between the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA) and Pakistan’s Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (SUPARCO) in the presence of Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in Islamabad, according to China Daily.
China Expands Space Cooperation with Pakistan
China has been actively supporting Pakistan’s space program in recent years, including launching satellites for the country. The agreement to send a Pakistani astronaut represents a major milestone in bilateral space collaboration.
China’s Tiangong space station, orbiting at 400 kilometers above Earth, has been operational for nearly four years and is regarded as a counterpart to the International Space Station (ISS). Beijing constructed Tiangong after being excluded from the ISS program, largely due to concerns over China’s space program being controlled by the People’s Liberation Army (PLA).
Global Space Competition Intensifies
The Chinese space station is also seen as an arena of competition between China and the United States. Some countries have raised concerns about Tiangong’s robotic arms, particularly the long arm capable of capturing objects like satellites, which has triggered security discussions globally.
Meanwhile, China has ambitious space exploration plans, including a manned mission to the Moon by 2030 and the construction of a lunar space station. It also aims to explore habitable planets and extraterrestrial life in the coming decades.
Earlier, Lin Xiqiang, Deputy Director of the Chinese Manned Space Agency, confirmed China’s goal to land astronauts on the Moon before 2030, aligning with the U.S. Artemis program, which aims to put American astronauts back on the lunar surface by 2025.
Sources By Agencies
