Chinese authorities announced that they are advancing plans for a national asteroid defense system as part of the country’s broader space security strategy. Officials described the initiative as consistent with China’s role as a “responsible major space power” and said it is intended to strengthen the country’s capability to detect, assess, and respond to potential asteroid threats.
According to the plan, the system will integrate ground- and space-based monitoring capabilities. On the ground, China intends to establish a geographically distributed network of large-aperture optical telescopes to provide long-range, wide-area, and high-precision observation. In space, authorities plan to deploy a constellation of monitoring satellites equipped with telescopes to overcome the limitations of atmospheric interference and the day-night cycle, with particular emphasis on detecting asteroids approaching from the direction of the Sun, which are more difficult to observe from Earth.
Chinese researchers said they have achieved initial breakthroughs in asteroid impact risk prediction models and algorithms and are developing an operational near-Earth asteroid early warning system. The integrated monitoring network is designed to enable continuous, around-the-clock observation and enhance China’s ability to detect, track, and assess potential asteroid impact risks.
Source: People’s Daily, July 6, 2026
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