Sino-American Space Diplomacy: Is it time?

As NASA Administrator Charles Bolden prepares to depart for China for talks about possible Sino-U.S.cooperation in human spaceflight October 16-21, 2010, the White House seeks to dampen expectations of any significant subsequent Sino-American space announcements, reports Space News.

The Europeans and Russians have both signaled a willingness to cooperate with China at the International Space Station raising speculation that the visit to China by the NASA Administrator might yield some subsequent American policy shift.

Domestic US politics and concern with varied Chinese policies raise concerns among several policymakers and foreign policy observers, however. A government-to-government space program might not be possible in the present political atmosphere. So goes the yin and yang ... as to "the envoys of mankind."

If the Chinese were to welcome a US astronaut to fly aboard a Shenzhou spacecraft in the next five years, such an offer might merit serious consideration. The offer and acceptance could be hailed as a one of the more affirmative steps in Chinese-American relations since Nixon visited China in 1972.

If, however, a Russian Soyuz were used to ferry a private Chinese citizen with a private American citizen in the next 24-to-36 months to the ISS, the political dynamic now existing would be shattered. This Blogger has previously proposed such a commercial diplomatic People-to-People-like route. Such a mission would also set the political tone for India's entry into human spacefaring nations in four or so years.

Most analysts have characterized present Sino-American relations as complex and multi-faceted, with the United States and the People's Republic of China being neither allies nor enemies. Generally, the U.S. government and military establishment do not regard the Chinese as an adversary, but as a competitor in some areas and a partner in others.

The Sino-American-Russian relations in space will only be determined with positive steps, whether it is by government or commerce. The space diplomacy need not be locked in stalemate. There are many positive steps that could be taken under the Rescue of Astronauts Treaty fashioned from Article V of the Outer Space Treaty among spacefaring peoples beginning with the Bolden trek to China.

It is a foreign policy matter of growing importance to human [vid] commercial and civil space activities in the next few short years. For example, if, or when, an micro-meteorite strikes a civil or commercial human spacecraft in orbit, it may be too late to negotiate with the Chinese. There needs to be space communication, approach and docking protocols for a seamless ubiquity in the opening diplomatic dialogue among 'the envoys of mankind.'