The US space agency NASA has blocked Chinese citizens with valid US visas from its facilities, effectively barring them from engaging with one of the world’s premier space research centers.
As reported by Bloomberg News, on September 5, affected Chinese nationals discovered they had lost access to NASA's systems and could no longer work as contractors or students contributing to research.
NASA confirmed the action, stating that the exclusion serves to ensure the security of the agency’s work by restricting these individuals from using its facilities, materials, and networks.
This decision comes as the US remains alarmed by the rapid development of China's space program—an issue which has heightened the competitive dynamics between the two largest economies in the world.
Additionally, Chinese astronauts are excluded from participating in the International Space Station (ISS) due to established prohibitions against NASA sharing data with China.
The latest restrictions reinforce the ongoing decline in scientific collaboration between the two nations stemming from national security anxiety.
Both Washington and Beijing have become increasingly suspicious of each other, complicating visa acquisition for Chinese students, particularly in science and technology fields.
Recent incidents of alleged espionage involving Chinese nationals have further exacerbated tensions. Bloomberg News also highlighted that many individuals unexpectedly found themselves denied access to NASA systems and barred from attending meetings remotely or otherwise.
NASA’s press secretary, Bethany Stevens, verified that internal actions regarding access for Chinese nationals included limiting physical and cybersecurity access to its facilities.
China has clearly stated its aspirations in space, as both countries vie to land humans on the Moon. NASA's acting administrator Sean Duffy recently declared, We’re in a second space race right now, asserting that the US aims to return to the lunar surface before China does.
A director from China's Manned Space Agency has claimed that American concerns are unwarranted, framing the nation's space exploration efforts as a collective mission for humanity.
Legislators in the US recently emphasized the strategic necessity of attaining lunar footholds ahead of China, underlining that the competition extends to controlling lunar resources such as rare earth minerals and helium, vital for various technological applications.
