Asian Space Race: Rhetoric or Reality?

1. Front Matter

   Pages i-xii

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2. Introduction

   1. Front Matter

      Pages 1-1

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3. Introduction

   1. Structure of the Book

      • Ajey Lele

      Pages 3-6

   2. Concept of Asia and Relevance of Space Technologies

      • Ajey Lele

      Pages 7-25

4. Asian Space Narratives

   1. Front Matter

      Pages 27-27

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5. Asian Space Narratives

   1. West Asia’s Investments in Space Technologies

      • Ajey Lele

      Pages 29-42

   2. Pakistan’s Space Capabilities

      • Ajey Lele

      Pages 43-58

   3. India’s Space Programme

      • Ajey Lele

      Pages 59-67

   4. East Asia’s Space Agenda

      • Ajey Lele

      Pages 69-77

   5. China’s Space Programme

      • Ajey Lele

      Pages 79-93

   6. Japan’s Space Programme

      • Ajey Lele

      Pages 95-108

   7. Space Investments: Southeast Asia

      • Ajey Lele

      Pages 109-121

6. Strategic Implications of Space Technologies

   1. Front Matter

      Pages 123-123

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7. Strategic Implications of Space Technologies

   1. Missile and Nuclear Conundrums

      • Ajey Lele

      Pages 125-141

   2. Satellite Navigation and Asia

      • Ajey Lele

      Pages 143-157

   3. Deep Space Agenda

      • Ajey Lele

      Pages 159-180

   4. Militarisation and Weaponisation

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      Pages 181-203

   5. Space Shuttle and Space Station

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      Pages 205-217

   6. Space Power Soft Power

      • Ajey Lele

      Pages 219-234

8. Conclusion

   1. Front Matter

      Pages 235-235

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This book explores the character and contours of the Asian Space Powers. At present, Asian states like China, Japan and India are found investing in space technologies with analogous social and scientific and probably with divergent military intents. Other Asian states like Israel, South Korea and Malaysia are also making investments in the space arena. States like Iran and North Korea are faulted for using space launches as a demonstrative tool to achieve strategic objectives. This work examines this entire maze of activities to unearth where these states are making these investments to accomplish their state-specific goal or are they also trying to surpass each other by engaging in competition. Explaining why and how these states are making investments towards achieving their socio-economic and strategic mandate this book infers that the possibility of Asian Space Race exists but is presently fairly diminutive.

• Asian Orbital Satellites
• Asian Space Race
• Global Navigation
• Military/Spy Satellites
• Weaponisation and Militarisation of Space

• Institute for Defence Studies & Analysis, New Delhi, India

  Ajey Lele

Wing Commander Ajey Lele is working with Institute for Defence Studies Analyses, an India think-tank on security and strategic studies. He is a postgraduate in Physics and has obtained his doctorate in International Relations. He works on issues related to Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD), Strategic Technologies and Space Security. He has authored three books including Strategic Technologies for the Military (Sage, 2009).

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