US physicist Michio Kaku eyes the future of space travel, China’s ambitions and the need for a new treaty
- In Talking Post, futurist Kaku predicts a democratisation of space travel when mum-and-dad tourists take off
- But without new laws to catch up with the rapidly advancing technology, ‘any competition between the great powers is dangerous, inherently’, he says
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Are aliens among us? Michio Kaku on UFOs and China-US space race | Talking Post with Yonden Lhatoo
“They are following the footsteps of the superpowers but doing it very methodically and quickly,” he said during an interview in the South China Morning Post’s video series, Talking Post with chief news editor Yonden Lhatoo.
“They should be commended for the fact that they have been skipping many steps,” he said, pointing to the example of the Chinese Tianwen-1 Mars mission, which he called “a three-in-one shot” with an orbiter, lander and rover all sent to the red planet in a historic first.
China has invested heavily and significantly advanced its ambitious space programme in recent years as part of the country’s “great rejuvenation” by 2049.
“Space is an important strategic asset for the country that must be well managed and utilised and, more importantly, protected,” Xi said.