The head of NASA said that China could claim the moon as its own territory if it beat the United States on the moon

• NASA chief Bill Nelson said that China could claim the moon as its own territory.

• He told Politico that Chinese aggression in the South China Sea points to what might happen on the moon.

• Nelson said China has made “tremendous success and tremendous progress” in its space program recently.

The head of NASA said that China could claim the moon as its own territory if it beat the United States in the race for the moon.

In an interview with Politicowhich was published Sunday, said NASA Administrator Bill Nelson Chinese military expansion in the South China Sea It was an indication of what might happen on the moon.

“It’s a fact: We’re in a space race,” Nelson said. “And it’s true that we’d better warn that they don’t get to a place on the Moon under the guise of scientific research. And it’s not so far out in the realm of possibility that they’re saying, ‘Go away, we’re here, this is our Earth.'”

“If you doubt it, look at what they did to the Spratly Islands.”

Recently published aerial photos New military installations appear on the Spratly Islands, a disputed archipelago in the South China Sea.

NASA completed Artemis mission 1 in November, which included a flyby of an uncrewed Orion spacecraft around the Moon. The mission preceded Artemis 3, which aims to land astronauts on the moon by 2025.

China recently completed its new space station, TiangongAnd in November, a crew of astronauts launched toward the station. Beijing plans to launch Three missions to the moon During the next decade as part of Chang’e’s lunar program, after she said she had discovered a new lunar mineral that could be used as an energy source.

Nelson told Politico that China has enjoyed “tremendous success and development” in its space program over the past decade.

NASA is working with Elon Musk’s SpaceX on the Artemis 3 mission. “I get asked the question every day: ‘How is SpaceX progressing?'” Nelson told Politico. And all of our managers tell me they all achieve.”

NASA did not immediately respond to Insider’s request for comment, outside of normal US business hours.

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