Outer space

US Air Force chief: The biggest threat posed by China is in space

The biggest threat posed by Russia and China lies in advancements in space capabilities, the U.S. Air Force chief of staff said during a panel at the Reagan National Defense Forum on Saturday.

Gen. Dave Goldfein joined chiefs from the three other services on stage at the forum, all of whom acknowledged threats posed by both Russia and China across the various domains. However, they acknowledged that an increased focus on armed forces anchored by a strong economy enable China to advance more quickly and with more sophistication.

“Russia is a rather dangerous threat because it’s an economy in decline and the demographics are challenging for the president,” Goldfein said.

“We’ve seen his [Vladimir Putin’s] actions when he finds himself” in that position," Goldfein added. “But China is the face of the threat. China has the economy."