In February 2023, a United States Air Force fighter jet shot down a Chinese high-altitude balloon flying at about 60,000-65,000 feet (18-20 km) altitude in sovereign U.S. airspace. After the event, some commentary suggested that the incident raised questions about the supposedly ambiguous or unsettled legal status of high-altitude airspace, sometimes referred to as “near space.” Later that year, other media reports hinted that China was establishing a “Near Space Command” as a new force within the People’s Liberation Army. Many countries, including the U.S. , have sponsored research into the military potential of near space. However, China’s interest in near space is not limited to operational matters; there is a legal aspect to it as well. China’s narrative about near space appears

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