Australia has launched the Space Defense Agency to counter China’s aspirations

The Australian government on Tuesday announced the creation of a military space command modeled on the US space force, which will secure a place in the universe.

“Space is becoming increasingly crowded and already competing because the lines between competition and conflict are increasingly blurring,” said Defense Minister Peter Dutton.

In a speech to the Australian Air Force, he said space “will have more military significance in this century.”

The new spacecraft, nicknamed the “Arms Division” – “Space Command” – will be buried at its inception, the Minister underlined without providing the figures or personnel assigned to the project.

Mr Dutton pointed out that the space command was aimed at confronting the military aspirations of China and Russia in space, as well as “all countries that see space as a territory to be taken, rather than a territory to be shared.”

The company will be led by Air Vice-Marshal Kate Roberts – a “science fiction enthusiast” – who will oversee the team, which includes members of the Australian Army, Navy and Air Force and private associates.

Peter Dutton initially promised that Australia would need “space forces in the future” if it was “modest”.

Australia’s Conservative government has prioritized the military ahead of elections, promising to increase the country’s security force to 80,000 troops by 2040 earlier this month.