Joint Force Quarterly
Abstract
On January 11, 2007, China tested an anti-satellite (ASAT) missile, destroying a weather satellite and creating about 35,000 pieces of orbital debris, the largest debris event in history. This highlighted the vulnerability of space assets and the need for effective space arms control. Despite proposals like the 2008 PPWT by China and Russia, effective agreements are hindered by verification challenges and diverse ASAT technologies. The 2014 EU Code of Conduct failed to gain consensus. The 2022 U.S. ban on direct-ascent ASAT tests is a positive step but doesn’t address all threats. The UN’s guidelines for the Long-Term Sustainability of Outer Space Activities provide a framework, but the PPWT could harm international interests. Focus should be on enforceable agreements that lay the groundwork for comprehensive arms control, shaping a safer space domain.
Recommended Citation
Brian Britt, "The PPWT and Ongoing Challenges to Arms Control in Space," Joint Force Quarterly 113 (2nd Quarter 2024), https://digitalcommons.ndu.edu/joint-force-quarterly/vol113/iss1/13.
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