Book Review: Chinese Space Policy

Roger Handberg and Zhen Li have created a gem in the writing of Chinese Space Policy: A Study in Domestic and International Politics (2007). This excellent book is worthy of the price. Nonetheless, it would be even better in a paperback, updated 2nd edition accompanied by an audio CD option each priced at under $50 so more people will benefit from the understanding of what these two authors provide in placing the contemporary Chinese space program in proper context. And moreover, this book hits the mark in placing the now equal and capable Chinese human space power in the correct policy analysis. It is worthy of a lower priced second edition and the well-read audio edition.

The flowing 173-page text would be made even more the worthy product with ten-to-20 pages of glossy photographs to assist the reader in visualizing the written word. Yet those with some international media awareness will get the mental picture from the excellent description of historic and cotemporary Chinese space and technology policy development.

This would be one of the books that I would hope that my US Congressman and two US Senators would read prior to voting on space policy issues. It is a book that I would also hope the President’s Science and National Security Advisors would have read in the first month of publisher print.

Every modern civil, commercial and military space launch leader should know of this book and elect to read it. Handberg and Li have unique insight based upon their well researched, referenced and footnoted book. Every American space industry leader needs to fully digest the text. In my judgment, Chinese Space Policy: A Study in Domestic and International Politics, is an essential reading guide to all-levels of American decision makers facing complex future policy decisions that must be made correctly. Emphasis is on 'made correctly' and not only for America’s sake but for the hope that may be afforded all mankind in this - the Second Space Age.