China supports space junk reduction

BEIJING - The Chinese government has always supported international action to reduce space junk, a Foreign Ministry spokeswoman said Tuesday.

Hua Chunying told a daily press briefing that China has taken steps on the matter and is willing to make further efforts together with other members of the international community.

Space.com reported on Friday that a Russian nanosatellite likely collided on January 22 with a piece of orbital debris spawned by a 2007 Chinese anti-satellite test. Hua said she had noticed the report.

Such comments are neither professional nor responsible, she said, noting that the space junk issue is a hangover from the long history of human space activities.

The international community knows well which country has contributed the greatest amount of space junk, the spokeswoman said.