The warning came after Washington announced its new Space Force. A spokesman for China's foreign ministry, Geng Shuang, said the US is pursuing a militarized space, violating the international consensus on the peaceful use of outer space and posing a direct threat to outer space peace and security.

President Donald Trump on Friday signed into law the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2020. The bill creates the US Space Force as the sixth branch of the US armed forces.

About 16,000 military and civilian personnel will be assigned to the Space Force, commanded by General Jay Raymond.