US space agency blocks Chinese researchers, citing cybersecurity risks

International Reporter
National Press Corporation(NPC)
The US space agency Nasa has barred Chinese nationals from working on its space programmes, in a move that underscores escalating tensions between Washington and Beijing over technology and security.

Chinese citizens holding valid US visas who were working with Nasa as contractors or student researchers were suddenly locked out of the agency’s systems and facilities earlier this month, Bloomberg reported. The agency later confirmed the restrictions, saying Chinese nationals would no longer be permitted to access Nasa’s “facilities, materials and networks to ensure the security of our work.”

The decision comes as competition between the two countries intensifies, particularly in space exploration. Chinese astronauts have long been excluded from the International Space Station because of a US ban on Nasa sharing data with Beijing. Now, the latest step further erodes opportunities for scientific cooperation between the world’s two largest economies.

Over recent years, Chinese students in science and technology fields have faced increasing hurdles obtaining US visas, amid growing suspicion of espionage. Several high-profile cases have heightened scrutiny of Chinese researchers in America. Bloomberg reported that some of those affected at Nasa were informed only when they suddenly found themselves unable to log into data systems or attend meetings related to their work.

Nasa press secretary Bethany Stevens confirmed the agency had taken “internal action pertaining to Chinese nationals – including restricting physical and cybersecurity access to our facilities.”

China, which has invested heavily in its own space programme, has repeatedly dismissed US concerns as unnecessary. Officials in Beijing have described their lunar ambitions as a “collective mission for humanity.” But in Washington, the rhetoric is starkly different.

“We’re in a second space race right now,” Nasa’s acting administrator Sean Duffy said at a press conference on Wednesday, insisting that China would not beat the US back to the moon. American lawmakers have echoed the urgency, with Senator Ted Cruz warning that if adversaries gained dominance in space, it would represent a “profound risk” to US security.

The race is not only about reaching the lunar surface first, but also about exploiting its resources. The Moon contains rare earth minerals, metals such as iron and titanium, and helium, which has critical applications in technology and medicine.