ABSTRACT
In a short amount of time, China has developed space extensive capabilities ranging from scientific exploration and business applications to humanitarian, military, and diplomatic purposes. The speed of such development has shocked others, particularly the US, the long-time predominant country in outer space. Why does China focus on outer space development? This chapter answers the question by analyzing Chinese official documents and other supporting material and concludes that China's space capabilities support the Chinese Communist Party's political longevity by strengthening its legitimacy to rule the nation: space capabilities help secure sovereign territories, economic growth, and great-power status in the world.
