U.S. military officials have revealed plans to prepare for potential combat operations in space, including near the moon. General Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, highlighted the need for the military to adapt to new challenges in warfare, mentioning the U.S. deployment of weapons in space. Lt. Gen. Gregory Gagnon, head of the Space Force’s Combat Forces Command, emphasized that the U.S. military must be ready to protect its interests in space as human activity in that domain increases. This follows a recent statement by Air Force Secretary Troy Meink, who said the U.S. has deployed "on-orbit space control weapons"—tools that can be used to control or disrupt objects in space. These developments challenge existing international agreements that have traditionally treated outer space as a peaceful area. Gagnon noted that potential adversaries, including China, are increasing their presence in space. China established its own military space forces in 2024 to address potential space-related crises. In response to the U.S. announcement, a Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson, Guo Jiakun, stated that China opposes the weaponization of space and urged the U.S. to halt its military buildup in the region. The Outer Space Treaty of 1967, signed by both the U.S. and China, states that celestial bodies like the moon should be used only for peaceful purposes and prohibits the placement of nuclear weapons in space. Two years ago, there was renewed interest in the United Nations to strengthen rules against militarizing space, especially after reports that Russia was developing a space-based weapon. However, Russia blocked a U.S.-Japanese proposal to ban nuclear arms and other weapons of mass destruction in space. A Russian proposal to ban all weapons in space "for all time" also did not pass. Gagnon said the U.S. Space Force will continue to carry out "safe and responsible space operations," but he did not clarify whether the use of bullets or projectiles in space would be part of their policy. The Pentagon did not immediately respond to requests for further information. Gagnon also mentioned that the U.S. plans to double the size of the Space Force within the next five years, with two-thirds of that expansion focused on the Combat Forces Command. He stated that these military capabilities are intended to deter potential threats.