By Dr Ajey Lele

In June 2024, the China-France collaboration in space achieved significant milestones. On June 22, 2024, a joint French-Chinese satellite was launched to explore the most powerful explosions in the universe. Named the Space Variable Objects Monitor (SVOM), this satellite is a product of collaboration between scientists from both countries. Additionally, on June 25, 2024, lunar samples collected by China’s Chang’e-6 mission from the Moon’s far side were successfully brought back to Earth. Launched on May 3, 2024, this mission includes a French payload on-board the Chang’e-6 lunar probe. The lander unit of Chang’e-6 is equipped with a French instrument called DORN (Detection of Outgassing Radon).

These recent space endeavors highlight the ongoing partnership and collaboration in space exploration between China and France.
SVOM’s mission is using X-ray vision to track down the source of gamma-ray bursts, which are detected in the sky around once every day. Human interest in this cosmic investigation goes back to the cold war era period. Around 1967, satellite monitoring was undertaken by the US for the purposes of checking the compliance in regards to the nuclear test ban treaty. During that phase the satellites chanced to spot a brief flash of gamma rays, which can also be produced by nuclear blasts. After detailed investigation scientists realised that what they had witnessed was not associated with any nuclear investigation but the gamma-ray bursts came from space. Today various agencies (ex. NASA’s Swift telescope) in the world are investigating the origin of these objects and SVOM missions is one such effort.

DORN (Detection of Outgassing Radon) is designed to study the movement of lunar dust and other volatile substances between the lunar regolith and exosphere, including aspects of the lunar water cycle. The DORN instrument measures radon and polonium, two radioactive tracers, in orbit around the Moon and on its surface, by capturing the alpha particles emitted by these radioactive nuclei as they decay. This success of SVOM and DORN indeed marks a significant milestone in the bilateral relationship between China and France. It showcases the collaborative efforts in space exploration and technology between the two nations.

During May 2024, Xi Jinping visited France to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations. France was the first major Western power to establish diplomatic relations with the People’s Republic of China at the ambassadorial level in 1964. The bilateral relationship has been steadily growing since then.  Today, France is China’s third largest trading partner and China is France’s largest trading partner in Asia. Climate change has been an important part of China-France cooperation and so is space.

China and France have enjoyed a long history of cooperation in space. In 1997, the two governments signed an agreement in the peaceful use of outer space, marking the first cooperation in the space field. The first oceanographic satellite jointly developed by the two countries was successfully launched at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in October 2018. This satellite called Chinese-French Oceanography Satellite (CFOSAT), a 650 kg bird put in low earth orbit (520 km) is mainly used in marine meteorology. This satellite is equipped with two radar scatterometers: the Wind SCATerometer (SCAT) and the Surface Waves Investigation and Monitoring (SWIM). SCAT solely monitors wind speed magnitude and direction and SWIM gives information about wind speed direction, wave height, wave propagation direction, and the wavelength of waves. This entire project is of great assistance to climate scientists towards understanding interactions between oceans and the atmosphere.

The Chang’e-5 Moon mission undertaken by China in 2020 was also a Moon sample return mission like the recent Chang’e-6 mission. During French President Macron’s visit to China in April 2023, China had gifted 1.5 grams of lunar samples for scientific use to France.

Actually, China’s collaboration in the space domain extends far beyond its borders, encompassing a diverse array of countries and regions. Such collaborations highlight China’s active engagement and cooperation in space exploration and technology. China’s partnerships span across continents and include collaborative efforts with African nations, such as satellite launches and technological exchanges aimed at bolstering capabilities in telecommunications, Earth observation, and scientific research. Additionally, countries like Brazil, Italy, Pakistan, Egypt, and Thailand are prominent partners in joint space missions, satellite projects, and scientific endeavours.

China operates space tracking stations in several countries, including Australia, Chile, Kenya, Namibia, Pakistan, and Sweden. These stations play crucial roles in tracking and communicating with Chinese satellites and spacecraft, supporting both civil and military space missions. Also, China actively engages in international collaboration and provides space-related technology and services to various countries. This includes satellite launches, satellite construction, ground station services, and satellite data applications. Some of the countries involved in these collaborations and partnerships include Algeria, Argentina, Belarus, Bolivia, France, Indonesia, Laos, Nigeria, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and Venezuela.

It is important to appreciate the ‘political significance’ of China’s global engagement in the space domain, in general and with France in particular. The PRC is using collaboration in the space domain as a means to connect and influence the international environment. During a short span of time, PRC has excelled in the space domain. They fully understand the soft-power status of their achievements in the domain of space. They are keen to expand their space industry too. At the same time owing to their investments towards expanding their counter-space program many in the world are anxious about their motives. Particularly, the US administration in 2011 has come out with the Wolf Amendment, a law passed by the US Congress that prohibits the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) from using government funds to engage in direct, bilateral cooperation with the Chinese government and other agencies.

China’s increasing engagement in the space domain, particularly with countries like France, reflects its strategic approach to international relations, especially in the context of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC). Today, any decision making in the UNSC gets marred by geopolitical rivalries.  There are divisions among permanent members: China and Russia versus the other three members (US, UK, France), can impact decision-making. Presently, China’s partnerships in space with France and other countries signify its efforts to build strategic alliances outside of traditional political alignments. Overall, China’s strategic engagement with France in the space domain not only strengthens bilateral relations but also enhances China’s diplomatic leverage within international forums like the UNSC.

The author is Deputy Director General, MP-IDSA, New Delhi.

Disclaimer: Views expressed are personal and do not reflect the official position or policy of FinancialExpress,com Reproducing this content without permission is prohibited.