Research Overview

This study provides an overview of the space force capacity structure of the Asia-Pacific. With an increase in tensions and conflict zones across the globe, military space capabilities have expanded to anticipate threats, respond to crises, and project power, guiding the development of offensive and defensive strategies vital to national interests. The changing space environment has highlighted the role of space as a distinct warfighting domain representing disparate theories and strategies pertaining to space power.

Russia and China’s positions on space are evolving to encompass information-driven capabilities as a pre-requisite to non-contact warfare, targeting assets and critical infrastructure to deprive the adversary of space-enabled information without geographically engaging in the physical theater of conflict. The national security space postures of most countries in the Asia-Pacific, however, focus on deterring and countering threats from space that infringe on national, allied, and partner interests. These differences in military postures and capabilities have the potential to expose systemic cracks.