Heavenly Mandate: Public Opinion and China's Space Activities

Abstract

China has one of the world's most advanced space programs, making it important to understand the motives shaping its pursuit of space power. Although analysts have examined the role of Chinese military doctrine in shaping its space ambitions, little is known about the role of China's public in its space-related activities. As scholars increasingly recognize, China's government is often highly concerned with domestic public opinion, particularly that of China's online population. Similarly, China's most ambitious projects, such as its human spaceflight program, are often used as propaganda aimed at domestic audiences. Public support for China's space activities could, therefore, play an important role in influencing China's space policy. To examine how China's public views China's space activities, this article draws on findings from a survey (N = 1482) fielded with Chinese respondents in June–July 2020. The article finds that China's public is largely supportive of investing in human spaceflight and deep space exploration. The survey also indicates that although respondents view the United States as a competitor and a threat, they favor cooperating with the United States in space exploration. Furthermore, the survey finds that China's public is supportive of international law governing outer space, as well as laws banning the use of space weapons. Overall, this descriptive analysis provides an important first step for understanding the role of public opinion in China's pursuit of space power.