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investment and a similar perception of dependence. Attempts to restrain
7
such capabilities are seen as a form of imposition or “lawfare” in the context
of a history of colonialism and imperialism. It is because of the perception
of these states that essentially this code was developed without their input
and then presented to them full cloth under some degree of pressure.
It is therefore unlikely that these powers are going to embrace the Code
without serious modification. The question is: “Can there be anything
substantial to modify when the contents of the Code appear to be
fundamentally common sense and unobjectionable?”
The answer is: “Yes.” The Code requires substantial revision because serious
errors of omission not only betray a lack of vision and fundamentally wrong
focus, but fails to recognise the fundamental purposes and ambitions of all
three Asian space powers as well as key ongoing trends shaping the domain.
Here is a list of seven deficits in the current code:
Space Development
The current draft fails to establish space development as a fundamental and
perhaps primary purpose. This is not a minor point. While the original
authors may see space and space programmes through a securitised lens, this
is not the view or purpose of the Asian space powers which see space
resources as key to sustainable development on Earth and seek a pro-growth,
space-industrial agenda to expand mankind's economic sphere at least into
the inner solar system. The current draft hardly seems encouraging of an
agenda for economic growth and growth of activity in space. This code
seems focused on the world of today, protecting the investment in the small
number of communication and surveillance satellites, rather than the needs
of the world of tomorrow as articulated by the pioneers and visionaries of
the Asian space programmes who see not exploration or security as the
raison d'être, but rather economic development.
The current draft fails
to establish space
development as a
fundamental and
perhaps primary
purpose. This is not a
minor point. While the
original authors may
see space and space
programmes through
a securitised lens, this
is not the view or
purpose of the Asian
space powers which
see space resources
as key to sustainable
development on Earth
and seek a progrowth,
spaceindustrial
agenda to
expand mankind's
economic sphere at
least into the inner
solar system.
What's in a Code?: Putting Space Development First | www.orfonline.org 29