NEW ACTOR IN SPACE: CHINA’S INTEREST IN “MODERN SPACE RACE” IN INTERNATIONAL ARENA POST-ECONOMIC REFORM ERA (1976-2019)

The utilization of the outer space is a great importance, It has
been known as country’s effort to develop the country as it highly
benefitting the country domestically or globally. Within the
utilization of the outer space, it is irrefutably that there is country that
has been dominating the utilization of the outer space such as United
States. Realizing of the importance of the space utilization, China
also has been committing their country to maximizing the space
exploration and technology. China is known to be the emerging
power in space sector and is considered as the challenger for United
States in space exploration and technology development. Therefore,
the presence of China re-emerged the term of “Space Race” which
competition among countries to develop their space sector and is
preceded by United States and Soviet Union during the Cold War.
Based on that, this study aims at analyzing the decisions of China in
participating the “Modern Space Race” since post-economic reform
or 1976. It would describes China’s ambition in space exploration
and technology development. Then, it identifies the interest of China
in military security based on its capability in space. Besides of
military security interest, it also identifies the opportunities of
improving China’s economic well-being in developing the space
exploration and technology. Lastly, this thesis has a conclusion that
China’s decisions in participating in “modern space race” are
because of the interest of China in becoming global leader in space
by strengthening its military security and gaining improvement of its
economic related to the space sector.