U.S.-China Commission wants a one-time, unclassified report on China’s space program

The U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission, which was established by Congress in 2000, wants to find an organization that can produce a one-time, unclassified report that assesses China’s civilian and military space programs.

Such a study would “describe the overall scope and scale of China’s space and counterspace programs since the mid-1990s and project its trajectory through 2030,” says a solicitation issued by the Commission on March 19.

The authors must describe China’s civilian organizations, military organizations and R&D programs involved in the nation’s space and counterpspace efforts. In addition, says the notice, the report must “explain and provide examples of how these organizations have capitalized or seek to capitalize on international cooperation, traditional espionage, and cyber espionage to acquire technology and expertise needed to pursue their long-term missions and objectives.”

The solicitation makes clear that the report must focus on space-based command, control, communications, computers, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (C4ISR). More specifically, the notice explains, the report should “assess how China’s expanding space-based C4ISR capabilities are improving the PLA’s ability to command and control its forces; monitor global events and track regional military activities; conduct counterspace operations; and increase the range at which Beijing can place U.S. ships, aircraft, and bases at risk with conventional missile systems.”

The authors of this new report would be given approximately 120 days to generate a draft, and another 30 days to polish its draft after receiving comments from the Commission.

Interested parties are asked to respond by April 9. Further information is available from Caitlin Campbell, the Commission’s research director, at 202-624-1480 or ccampbell@uscc.gov.