NASA has barred Chinese nationals from working on its programs, even if they hold valid US visas, cutting them off from one of the world’s most prestigious space research agencies.
According to Bloomberg, Chinese contractors and students contributing to NASA projects discovered on September 5 that they had lost access to the agency’s systems and facilities. NASA later confirmed the move, saying Chinese citizens are now restricted from using its “facilities, materials and networks to ensure the security of our work.”
The decision highlights growing suspicion between Washington and Beijing as both countries accelerate their space ambitions.
Chinese astronauts are already excluded from the International Space Station, since US law prevents NASA from sharing data with China. The latest ban further reduces scientific collaboration, which has been shrinking due to national security concerns.
For many Chinese students in science and technology, securing visas and entering the US has already become harder. Several recent cases of alleged espionage by Chinese nationals have added to the scrutiny.
Bloomberg reported that the NASA contractors were suddenly locked out of data systems and barred from meetings, both in person and online, with little or no advance notice.
NASA spokesperson Bethany Stevens confirmed “internal action” was taken against Chinese nationals, including restricting physical and cybersecurity access.
The move comes as the US and China openly compete in what many are calling a new space race. Beijing has ambitious plans to return astronauts to the moon, while Washington insists it will not be beaten.
“We’re in a second space race right now,” NASA’s acting administrator Sean Duffy told reporters this week. “The Chinese want to get back to the moon before us. That’s not going to happen.”
China has dismissed US concerns as unnecessary. Last year, a senior official from China’s Manned Space Agency called lunar exploration a “collective mission for humanity.”
But US lawmakers see it differently. At a Senate hearing last week, Republican senator Ted Cruz warned that if China achieves “dominant space capabilities, it would pose a profound risk to America.”
Beyond symbolism, the race is about resources. The moon holds valuable minerals like iron, titanium, and rare earth elements, as well as helium, which is used in superconductors and medical equipment.
