January 19, 2007—The Chinese military used a ground-based missile to hit and destroy one of its own satellites orbiting more than 500 miles in space on January 12, 2007. This test demonstrates China’s ability to target regions of space that are home to American space assets including space-based missile defense systems.

Congressman Trent Franks (AZ-02), two term member on the Strategic Forces Subcommittee stated, “We cannot afford to neglect the gravity of China’s recent achievement and the unsettling potential message it conveys.  China is a growing international power and we can not allow our own strategic dominance to be diminished. The United States must continue to focus on our own missile defense capabilities more than ever. Our national security could ultimately hang in the balance.”