Air Force general: Chinese anti-satellite test a ‘wake-up call’

"It was irresponsible," said Gen. Kevin Chilton. of Chinese officials' decision to destroy one of the country's own aged satellites using a ground-launched missile. "They created a debris hazard" for both military and commercial satellites in low Earth orbit.

Space must now be considered a battlefield where potential enemies may try and take away an "asymmetric advantage" the United States has long enjoyed in reconnaissance and intelligence, Chilton said at the annual Air Force conference in Washington, D.C.

The test makes it clear that space is no longer an American "sanctuary," an argument the Air Force has been making for some time, he said. He added that in the long run, the Chinese test likely will backfire, as the United States develops new technologies to protect its satellites. "Now we know clearly where we need to invest our dollars in that domain," he said.

The United States must invest more heavily in new space-based sensors to increase "situational awareness," to protect its satellites from attack and space debris, Chilton said. Also, satellite launch sites must be upgraded, he said.

China's military is "modernizing rapidly," but there isn't enough information on what new weapons systems China is building, said Gen. Paul Hester, commander of Pacific Air Forces, speaking at the conference. He said China and the United States must build stronger military ties, with officer exchanges and joint exercises in the Pacific region.