China has issued a stern warning to former U.S. President Donald Trump following his announcement of an ambitious new missile defense initiative dubbed the “Golden Dome.”
Speaking from the Oval Office on Tuesday (May 20), Trump revealed plans for the $175 billion program, which would mark a major shift in U.S. defense strategy by deploying weapons in space for the first time.
According to Trump, the primary objective of the Golden Dome is to enable the United States to intercept incoming missiles — including those launched from space. “This is about securing America’s future,” Trump told reporters, emphasizing the urgency of the initiative.
The program will be overseen by General Michael Guetlein, the current Vice Chief of Space Operations, who is expected to lead its development and implementation.
The proposal has drawn immediate criticism from Beijing, which warned that the militarization of space could escalate global tensions and spark a new arms race. Chinese officials urged Washington to reconsider the plan, citing concerns over strategic stability and international security.
The Golden Dome intends to put US weapons in space (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
What is the Golden Dome?
Following warnings from the Pentagon about the new, advanced missiles developed by China and Russia, the focus of the Golden Dome is to both detect and stop missiles at four specific stages:
- Before a launch
- During the earliest stage of flight
- In the middle of their course
- In the final minutes as they approach a target
Planners at the Pentagon have spent months coming up with options for interceptors, with one US official cited by the PA News Agency explaining that they came up with ‘medium, high and extra high choices’ based on cost, with differences varying on satellites, sensors, and space-based interceptors.
The Congressional Budget Office has estimated that space-based components of the programme alone could cost as much as $542 billion over the next 20 years, with Trump requesting an initial $25 billion for the programme.
The Golden Dome is set to cost millions of dollars (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
What has China said about the Golden Dome?
After news of Trump’s plans came to light, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning issued a warning on the implications and potential outcomes of the Golden Dome.
Mao said the Golden Dome carries ‘strong offensive implications’, and increases the risk of outer space becoming militarized.
On top of that, Mao said it also heightens the risks of an arms race.
The spokesperson said: “The United States, in pursuing a ‘US-first’ policy, is obsessed with seeking absolute security for itself. This violates the principle that the security of all countries should not be compromised and undermines global strategic balance and stability. China is seriously concerned about this.”
Mao went as far as urging Washington to abandon the development of the Golden Dome altogether.
China has urged Washington to abandon the idea (Chris Kleponis/CNP/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
Why does the US need the Golden Dome?
Since China and Russia have already put offensive weapons in space, including satellites that can disable critical US satellites, the US has been left vulnerable to attack.
General Chance Saltzman, head of the US Space Force, has said that the Golden Dome and its weapons ‘represent new and emerging requirements for missions that have never before been accomplished by military space organizations’.
However, Air Force Secretary Troy Meink has said the programme is ‘still in the conceptual stage’ for the time being.
