Asia Applauds Newest Space Club Member’s Achievement

CHINA'S neighbours yesterday hailed the country's first manned space flight as an important milestone for Asia, with China becoming the first Asian country to join the elite space club.

Congratulatory messages flooded in from all over Asia following the successful launch of the manned Shenzhou V spacecraft yesterday morning.

In Japan, Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi proclaimed the historic mission as 'outstanding', adding that China had proved itself to have highly sophisticated space science technology.

Chief Cabinet Secretary Yasuo Fukuda also tried to allay concern here that Tokyo, which was Asia's foremost space explorer for decades, was lagging being its giant neighbour.

'I don't think Japan is necessarily lagging China,' he said.

'At this juncture, Japan is not thinking of manned space flight...I think Japan should proceed in its own way.'

New Delhi, which is planning an unmanned mission to the moon in 2008, hailed the space mission as 'a matter of pride' for all Asians.

Dr Chandrasekharan, director of the South Asia Analysis Group, added: 'It is a matter of pride for all Asians including Indians because an Asian country has done it. Such missions have so far been the preserve of the West.'

But the reaction from India, which is seen as China's space rival, was not without a hint of envy. 'It is not that we lack the technological capability,' former Indian Space Research Organisation chief U. R. Rao told AFP.

'If the government changes its view on space programmes, then a manned mission is still very much possible.'

Taiwan, meanwhile, did not issue any official comment but defence and space experts said the present mission had more political than military significance.

Dr Lee Lou-chuan, director of the Space Centre, said China was still way behind the United States in terms of military and space technology and 'there is no need for us to have any space competition with the mainland'.

In Hong Kong, Chief Executive Tung Chee Hwa said the successful launch 'reflected on the technological standards of the country, its comprehensive national strength and international position'.

The US and Russia, pioneers in space exploration, also welcomed China's entry yesterday into the elite space club.

'This launch is an important achievement in the history of human exploration,' the US space agency Nasa said in a statement.

Mr James Oberg, a veteran at Nasa mission control in Houston, said the mission would be only the beginning of an ambitious Chinese manned space programme, including sending probes to the moon and building a permanent Chinese space station.

'In the next missions, I expect China will begin practising docking techniques and getting their group of 14 astronauts experience in space,' he said.

Russia, meanwhile, congratulated the Chinese for succeeding with the same feat accomplished by Moscow some 40 years ago.

'We welcome this development and congratulate China for joining the club of space powers that have their own manned space programmes,' ITAR-TASS quoted the first deputy of the Russian space agency, Mr Nikolai Moiseyev, as saying. The historic space mission has also left ordinary Asians flushed with pride.

'China has caught up with the United States,' Singaporean Roger Chan, 34, told The Straits Times.

'As a new emerging superpower of the region, China should take up more international roles such as space travel.'

Meanwhile, in reactions from other countries:

Indonesia: Dr Lilik Hendrajaya, the deputy at the office of the State Minister for Research and Technology, said the successful launch was 'the result of hard work and high discipline' adding 'only a great nation can do that'.

Malaysia: 'It is heartening for us, as it shows that Asians can strive and go to outer space too. This is the beginning of exploration of space for Asians,' said Mr Abdul Raof Zahari, assistant director, National Space Agency of Malaysia.

Thailand: 'It shows the enormous potential of China in terms of being a constructive force for peace and progress,' said Foreign Affairs Ministry spokesman Sihasak Phuangketkeow.

Philippines: 'This is a great achievement for China as well as for Asia... this brings pride to Asians,' said President Gloria Arroyo's deputy spokesman, Ricardo Saludo.

-- Reporting by Reme Ahmad in Kuala Lumpur, Devi Asmarani in Jakarta, Luz Baguioro in Manila, Lawrence Chung in Taipei, Nirmal Ghosh in Bangkok, Kwan Weng Kin in Tokyo and Mary Kwang in Hong Kong