101
© The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2021
M. Spagnulo, The Geopolitics of Space Exploration, Springer Praxis Books,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-69125-7_9
9
Battlestar Galactica: The Space Cyberwar
of the Future
“Si vis pacem, para bellum”.
If you want peace, prepare for war.
A Latin adage
In the summer of 2015, three events took place: the crisis of the Shanghai Stock
Exchange,
1
which burned about $2 trillion in only 20 days, the joint RussianChinese military manoeuvres that took place for the first time in the Mediterranean
Sea,
2
and the massive military parade
3
in Tiananmen Square a few weeks after the
stock market crash.
The fall of the Shanghai Stock Exchange and the disputes with the US over
export duties are clear signs of ongoing economic challenges that China will have
to face on its way to becoming a superpower. Such events may perhaps lead to
liberal political reforms and opportunities for unprecedented political alliances. At
the same time, the great parade in Tiananmen Square represented how Beijing’s
global ambitions are supported by a modern and powerful military asset. The military parade had an official motivation: the 70th anniversary of the end of WWII. Of
course, the real reason was to show the world China’s growing military power.
This attitude is currently leading to the rearmament of many surrounding nations,
1
CNN World News. China’s stock market crash...in 2 minutes. http://money.cnn.
com/2015/07/09/investing/china-crash-in-two-minutes/index.html.
2
http://www.rainews.it/dl/rainews/articoli/Cina-Russia-Mediterraneo-012838df-c7d2-4dd29b1a-b79001a55987.html.
3
Financial Times. China military parade poses dilemma for the west. https://www.ft.com/content/ecebc5fa-cee8-11e4-893d-00144feab7de.
© The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2021
M. Spagnulo, The Geopolitics of Space Exploration, Springer Praxis Books,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-69125-7_9
9
Battlestar Galactica: The Space Cyberwar
of the Future
“Si vis pacem, para bellum”.
If you want peace, prepare for war.
A Latin adage
In the summer of 2015, three events took place: the crisis of the Shanghai Stock
Exchange,
1
which burned about $2 trillion in only 20 days, the joint RussianChinese military manoeuvres that took place for the first time in the Mediterranean
Sea,
2
and the massive military parade
3
in Tiananmen Square a few weeks after the
stock market crash.
The fall of the Shanghai Stock Exchange and the disputes with the US over
export duties are clear signs of ongoing economic challenges that China will have
to face on its way to becoming a superpower. Such events may perhaps lead to
liberal political reforms and opportunities for unprecedented political alliances. At
the same time, the great parade in Tiananmen Square represented how Beijing’s
global ambitions are supported by a modern and powerful military asset. The military parade had an official motivation: the 70th anniversary of the end of WWII. Of
course, the real reason was to show the world China’s growing military power.
This attitude is currently leading to the rearmament of many surrounding nations,
1
CNN World News. China’s stock market crash...in 2 minutes. http://money.cnn.
com/2015/07/09/investing/china-crash-in-two-minutes/index.html.
2
http://www.rainews.it/dl/rainews/articoli/Cina-Russia-Mediterraneo-012838df-c7d2-4dd29b1a-b79001a55987.html.
3
Financial Times. China military parade poses dilemma for the west. https://www.ft.com/content/ecebc5fa-cee8-11e4-893d-00144feab7de.