China isn't tagged as the Sleeping Giant of Asia for nothing...and this giant has begun waking up and flexing its muscles, which brings a worried atmosphere to the United States. According to a recent report issued by the U.S. Office of the Secretary of Defense entitled, Military Power of the People's Republic of China: A Report To Congress, the country's escalating expertise in space is also enhancing its competence as a global military force.

Along with the development of future radar, ocean surveillance, and high-resolution photoreconnaissance satellites, China’s rise as a space power also includes pursuit of an offensive anti-satellite system. The U.S. couldn't be more worried - the country with the largest known army is beginning to be military and space experts.

The report addresses the current and future military strategy and activities of China. It focuses on China's possible military technological developments and strategies, improvement in organizational matters and operational concepts in the next 20 years. One of China's military modernization efforts is the development of advanced space-based C4ISR (which is short for Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance).

The report also states that China's space access will vastly imrove in the coming years because it is now looking onto replacing the traditional Long March System. The report specifically states that "acquiring more sophisticated space systems will allow China to expand the reach of its anti-access forces and could serve as a key enabler for regional power projection."

China does not have plans on being left behind in the field of satellite reconnaissance as well. Again, according to the report, China participated in the China-Brazil Earth Resources Satellite (CBERS) program with the CBERS-1 and CBERS-2 remote sensing satellites. These space contraptions can take 20 meter resolution images in swaths exceeding 100 kilometers and could easily transmit those images to various stations.

The big guy from the East is also said to be involved in what the report calls "the Huanjing Program" which needs three satellites-- two of which are equipped for visible, infrared, and multi-spectral imaging. A third spacecraft will possess a synthetic aperture radar. Phase two of the Huanjing initiative allows for eight satellites: four imaging and four SAR in orbit simultaneously. This will enable China to engage in activities such as future radar, ocean surveillance, and high-resolution photoreconnaissance satellites.

The Pentagon report also focuses on China’s navigation and timing space attributes, noting that the country orbited three BeiDou satellites to provide navigation coverage with an accuracy of 20 meters over China and surrounding areas. They also use the U.S. Global Positioning Satellite (GPS) system and Russia’s GLONASS navigation satellites, and has invested in the European Union’s Galileo navigation system program.

In the human spaceflight arena, the Pentagon report explains that China launched its second manned space mission on October 12, 2005, nearly two years after its first piloted Earth orbiting mission. The two-person crew returned safely on October 17, 2005.

With these at hand, it isn't surprising that the Pentagon report warns that Beijing “continues to pursue an offensive anti-satellite system,” saying that China can currently destroy or disable satellites only by launching a ballistic missile or space-launch vehicle armed with a nuclear weapon. It seems like the lone surviving super-power in the world will soon meet its match in China, that is why no one can blame those who are skeptical about this report saying that the U.S. is just intimidated by the developments in the Chinese mainland.