China has issued a blistering warning to the US following President Donald Trump's announcement of the $175 billion missile defense initiative, dubbed the "Golden Dome".
The controversial plan, unveiled on May 20 from the Oval Office, outlines a sweeping U.S. strategy to build a comprehensive missile shield designed to defend against threats from countries like China and Russia.
The Golden Dome is still in its conceptual phase, but Trump said he hopes it will be operational before the end of his term in 2029.
“Once fully constructed, the Golden Dome will be capable of intercepting missiles even if they are launched from other sides of the world and even if they are launched from space, and we will have the best system ever built,” the 78-year-old said in the Oval Office alongside Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, per CNBC.
“We have officially selected an architecture for this state-of-the-art system that will deploy next generation technologies across the land, sea, and space, including space-based sensors and interceptors,” he added.
The president revealed that the system is expected to track and intercept projectiles at four critical points: before launch, early in flight, midcourse, and final descent, AP News reported.
Trump and Hegseth emphasized the plan's strategic importance, citing warnings from the Pentagon about space-based threats, including offensive satellites deployed by adversaries.
General Chance Saltzman, head of the U.S. Space Force, said the program marks a historic shift, adding that the weapons "represent new and emerging requirements for missions that have never before been accomplished by military space organizations," per Sky News.
According to ABC News, the plan has already triggered fierce backlash from China.
Speaking during a press conference, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning condemned the Golden Dome, claiming it "heightens the risk of turning space into a war zone" and "shakes the international security and arms control system".
"The United States, in pursuing a 'U.S.-first' policy, is obsessed with seeking absolute security for itself," Mao said. "This violates the principle that the security of all countries should not be compromised and undermines global strategic balance and stability. China is seriously concerned about this."
She went further, accusing the US of attempting to expand its combat operations into outer space.
“It plans to expand the U.S. arsenal of means for combat operations in outer space, including R&D and deployment of orbital interception systems,” she said. “That gives the project a strong offensive nature and violates the principle of peaceful use in the Outer Space Treaty.”
Signed in 1967, the Outer Space Treaty prohibits the use of weapons of mass destruction in orbit and limits military activity in space to peaceful purposes.
Mao added: “This is yet another 'America First' initiative that puts the U.S.' absolute security above all else... China is gravely concerned.”
She urged Washington to abandon the project entirely: “We urge the U.S. to give up developing and deploying global anti-missile system, and take concrete actions to enhance strategic trust between major countries and uphold global strategic stability.”
Though no funds have yet been allocated, Air Force Secretary Troy Meink confirmed the program remains in the conceptual phase.
The Congressional Budget Office estimates the cost of space-based components could balloon to $542 billion over 20 years, depending on how many satellites, sensors, and interceptors are deployed.
According to sources cited by Reuters, SpaceX, along with software firm Palantir and defense contractor Anduril, are frontrunners to lead the initiative.
Their joint proposal reportedly includes deploying 400–1,000 satellites to detect missile threats and another 200 equipped with interceptive lasers or missiles.
Despite rising global tensions, Trump seems determined to press forward. Whether the project will materialize - or further strain diplomatic relations - remains to be seen.