The US space agency Nasa has moved to block Chinese citizens, even those holding valid American visas, from accessing its facilities, systems and data networks, in a decision that underscores growing tensions between Washington and Beijing in the race for space dominance.
Chinese nationals working with the agency as contractors, students or researchers discovered on 5 September that their access to Nasa’s systems had been revoked, according to Bloomberg. They were also barred from attending meetings, both in-person and virtual, effectively ending their involvement in ongoing research projects.
Nasa later confirmed the restrictions, citing security concerns. “We have taken internal action pertaining to Chinese nationals – including restricting physical and cybersecurity access to our facilities,” press secretary Bethany Stevens said.
The move reflects deepening mistrust between the two global powers as they accelerate their space programs. China has ramped up its ambitions in recent years, launching crewed space missions and declaring plans to put astronauts on the moon. Washington, wary of Beijing’s intentions, has long restricted collaboration. Chinese astronauts are already excluded from the International Space Station under a US ban on sharing Nasa data with China.
Analysts say the latest action will further erode scientific cooperation between the countries. It also comes at a time when Chinese students in sensitive fields like science and engineering face growing hurdles in obtaining US visas or entering the country, amid a string of espionage allegations against Chinese nationals.
The rivalry in space is increasingly seen as a strategic contest. Nasa’s acting administrator, Sean Duffy, told reporters this week: “We’re in a second space race right now. The Chinese want to get back to the moon before us. That’s not going to happen.”
US lawmakers have echoed those concerns. At a Senate hearing last week, Republican Senator Ted Cruz warned: “China has made no secret of its goals. If our adversaries achieve dominant space capabilities, it would pose a profound risk to America. The stakes could not be higher.”
China, for its part, has pushed back against US suspicion. The director of the general technology bureau of China’s Manned Space Agency last year dismissed Washington’s warnings as “unnecessary,” framing China’s lunar ambitions as part of a “collective mission for humanity.”
Behind the rhetoric lies competition for more than just prestige. The Moon is believed to hold valuable resources, including rare earth minerals, titanium, iron and helium – materials with significant industrial and technological applications. Control of those resources, experts say, could give whichever nation lands first a strategic edge.
While it remains unclear how much notice Chinese nationals at Nasa were given before losing access, the sudden restrictions underline how national security concerns are reshaping global scientific collaboration. For Nasa, the move is as much about safeguarding research as it is about signalling America’s determination to win the new space race.
