China in Space: The Great Leap Forward

Abstract

Space is a top strategic priority in China and vital to national power. This is reflected in the advances in China’s space program over the last two decades where China solidified its technological prowess to manufacture satellites at a rapid pace, as well as develop a reliable launching capability to lift payloads into different orbits. These technological developments are a result of China’s understanding of the strategic importance of space for civilian and military purposes. Chinese assets in space are growing with a variety of civilian and military satellites and applications. Currently, China is second in the world in terms of the number of operational satellites after the United States. China’s development of cost-effective space technology, as compared to Russia and the United States, opened a new avenue for space program cooperation with developing states. Above all, China’s space capabilities provide it with an opportunity to position and assert itself as a global power. Brian Harvey writes extensively on China. His previous two books entitled, The Chinese Space Program: From Conception to Future Capabilities and China’s Space Program: From Conception to Manned Spaceflight, were published in 1998 and 2004 respectively. In 2013, Harvey published another book on China, and in 2019 the second edition of this book under review here was released. Harvey’s consistency in publishing on China’s space program makes him an academic authority on Chinese space activities. The book under review comprises nine chapters, which compiles previous work and highlights technological development in the Chinese space program. A read of Harvey’s book provides an excellent opportunity to comprehensively understand the technology and projects of China’s space program. This adds to the body of literature on this topic.