China | Chaguan

China’s ties with Russia are growing more solid

Our columnist visits a future Russian outpost in China’s most advanced spaceport

illustration featuring a Chinese space rocket positioned in the center, flanked by the flag of Russia on the left side and the flag of China on the right side against a natural background.
Illustration: Chloe Cushman

CHINA’S FIRST tropical spaceport, Wenchang, is proof of national swagger. During the cold war, China launched rockets from the Gobi desert and other desolate inland spots, for fear of enemy attack. Once China was more confident that it could deter invaders, though, Wenchang became a fine gateway to space. This close to the equator, on the southern island of Hainan, the Earth’s rotation gives a boost to every launch. The palm-fringed coastal site allows the largest Long March rockets to be delivered by sea. Wenchang finally opened in 2016. Its well-guarded launch areas are flanked by a science-education centre (closed to foreign visitors), replicas of rockets, statues of flag-waving astronauts and other tourist kitsch, like a Communist Party homage to Florida.

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This article appeared in the China section of the print edition under the headline “China firms up ties with Russia”

From the April 27th 2024 edition

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