September 13, 2025 | 07:29 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The United States' National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has officially banned Chinese nationals from participating in all space programs, even if they hold valid U.S. visas. The decision, confirmed on September 5, 2025, has resulted in Chinese students, researchers, and contractors losing access to NASA facilities, networks, and materials. As a consequence, their participation in ongoing projects and collaborations has been halted.
A report mentioned that many Chinese citizens were suddenly locked out of the system, denied access to important research data, and excluded from in-person and virtual meetings, disrupting several scientific and technical initiatives.
NASA spokesperson Bethany Stevens explained that this measure was taken to safeguard the physical and cybersecurity of the agency, as reported by BBC and The Times of India on September 13, 2025.
For years, the U.S. Congress has restricted NASA from collaborating with China, citing national security risks. The ban also includes sharing scientific data, which has kept Chinese astronauts from being involved in the International Space Station (ISS).
Washington's suspicion of Beijing has increased as China's space program has advanced rapidly. Several cases of alleged espionage by Chinese individuals in sensitive fields have contributed to the growing distrust. This situation has made it increasingly difficult for Chinese students wishing to study science and technology in the U.S. to obtain visas, despite approvals.
NASA's top officials acknowledge that the world is witnessing a "second space race." NASA's Acting Administrator Sean Duffy stated that China is aiming to land astronauts on the Moon before the U.S. "The Chinese want to get back to the Moon before us. That’s not going to happen," he said.
This competition is not merely symbolic. The Moon is known to have valuable resources such as rare-earth minerals, titanium, iron, and crucial helium for various industries, from advanced electronics to medical technology. Several U.S. senators have warned that China's domination of lunar resources could pose a serious threat to America's strategic and technological interests.
On the other hand, Chinese officials view the U.S. concerns as exaggerated. Last year, the director of the China Manned Space Agency's technology bureau stated that space exploration should be seen as a "collective mission for humankind." However, Beijing also does not hide its ambition to build a permanent base on the Moon and to develop long-distance manned space missions.
U.S. Senator Ted Cruz emphasized that the stakes are extremely high. "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," he said, as quoted from BBC.
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