Ukrinform stated this in an interview with Politico.

“It’s a fact: we’re in a space race… Better make sure they don’t find their way to the Moon under the guise of scientific research. “Stay away, we’re here, this is our territory,” Nelson said.

He gave a “worldly” example: the army of the People’s Republic of China established bases on disputed islands in the South China Sea. “If you’re in doubt about that, look at what they’ve done to the Spratly Islands,” Nilsson added.

The moon race between the US and China is heating up, and the next few years may determine who will be the winner, according to the NASA chief.

As noted in the article, China’s aggressive space program is gaining momentum, including a newly launched space station. Beijing has announced its goal of landing taikonauts on the moon by the end of this decade. In December, the Chinese government outlined its vision for more ambitious plans such as building infrastructure and establishing a space management system in space.

Over the past few years, Beijing has launched a number of robotic lander and rover to collect lunar samples, including an orbiter, lander and rover that has reached Mars, including the first sample on the far side of the Moon.

Also expressing growing concern about Beijing’s development of space systems that could threaten US satellites, the US military warned of the security implications of Beijing’s attack on deep space.

Nelson said that any significant delay or interruption to the US program, which includes a host of new systems and equipment, and which is still in development, could outpace the Chinese. NASA’s moon landing timeline has already changed a year under the Trump administration.

“It’s entirely possible they’re going to overtake us… The progress they’ve made has been incredible – extremely fast,” said US Space Force Lieutenant General Nina Armagno on a visit to Australia last month.