Outer Space

It is amazing how great powers can do double talk with straight faces in the international arena. After criticising China for shooting down a faulty weather satellite in January 2007, the US now plans to shoot down a disabled spy satellite of its own, avowedly to prevent contamination of the toxic fuel on board. Not to be outdone in the match of hypocrisy, a Chinese FM spokesman expressed concern over the American plan and called on Washington to fulfill its international obligations and avoid threatening security in space and the security of other countries. Later, following the shootdown, China requested the US to "promptly provide to the international community the necessary information" on the shooting.