WASHINGTON, April 6 (UPI) -- Chinese officials have not explained why they conducted a surprise anti-satellite test Jan. 11, the top general in the United States said Thursday.
Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Peter Pace, who returned from an Asian tour this week, told Pentagon reporters he raised the issue several times with Chinese officials.
"I told them that ... it was difficult for the world to understand what China was doing with their anti-satellite test. They had not announced it beforehand, they did not acknowledge it until significantly after they did it, and therefore the world was confused about what the intent was and what their policies toward space activity were. They did not answer that question," Pace said.
China used a ground-based medium-range ballistic missile to ram an old weather satellite in orbit. It exploded into thousands of pieces, adding a dangerous amount of space debris that can damage other satellites or vehicles.
Despite its recalcitrance on the ASAT launch, Pace said the Chinese military was far more open than it has been in the past.
"They demonstrated their desire to increase the amount of transparency. They took me to places that no other U.S. officer had been. I sat in an SU-27 airplane, which is their top-end fighter. I rode around inside their T-99 tank, which is their top-end tank. They showed me a combined arms demonstration. They took me to their private offices. They took me to their command centers and showed me their maps and their plans and their sand tables," Pace said.
He said the top Chinese general wants to increase cadet exchanges between West Point and China's military academy and increase the number of search and rescue and humanitarian exercises. Pace also said China is open to having establishing a hotline between Washington and Beijing "to make sure that misunderstandings are taken care of."
