Washington, September 11(HS): NASA has barred Chinese citizens holding US visas from accessing its facilities, data systems, and internal meetings, marking a sharp escalation in Washington’s technological and security restrictions as US-China competition in space intensifies.

The move, confirmed on Wednesday by NASA spokeswoman Bethany Stevens, extends beyond longstanding bans on formal cooperation with Chinese institutions, targeting individuals such as graduate students, university scientists, and contractors who had previously contributed to US space projects. Stevens said the restrictions were intended to “ensure the security of our work.”

Chinese citizens lost physical and digital access to NASA systems and meetings on September 5, according to Bloomberg. The timing underscores growing urgency as the US and China prepare rival crewed moon missions, with NASA aiming for 2027 and Beijing targeting 2030. Acting NASA administrator Sean Duffy described “beating China in the space race” as critically important, calling China’s programme a “military operation” and warning the US “cannot cede space.”

The decision comes alongside mounting bipartisan pressure in Washington to keep the US ahead in lunar exploration. Senators Ted Cruz and Maria Cantwell stressed that China’s ambitions to establish a permanent foothold on the moon pose high strategic stakes, framing the contest as more than symbolic prestige.

Still, policy experts warned of risks from overreach. Gregory Kulacki of the Union of Concerned Scientists said space congestion in low-Earth orbit demanded cooperation, while Denis Simon of the Quincy Institute criticised the ban as “anti-China paranoia” that could undermine US scientific innovation by excluding talent.

The restrictions coincide with efforts in Congress to revive the Justice Department’s controversial “China Initiative,” a programme halted in 2022 after accusations of racial profiling. House appropriators have advanced language to tighten Chinese access to NASA, while some Democrats warn the measure represents a setback for civil rights and scientific exchange.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar