China has announced intentions to create a "space-ground" early-warning network for monitoring near-Earth asteroids. The China National Space Administration (CNSA) made this announcement on June 30, coinciding with International Asteroid Day, although specific details about the network remain sparse. Li Mingtao, chief scientist at CNSA's Asteroid Monitoring and Early Warning Research Center, explained that the system would focus on addressing potential impact risks by coordinating ground and space observations.
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While no asteroid has been definitively identified as a future threat, Li acknowledged ongoing concerns due to the presence of many undetected near-Earth asteroids. He indicated plans to deploy multiple large-aperture optical telescopes in strategically selected locations to enhance sky surveys. In addition, a space-based monitoring constellation is being considered to avoid atmospheric disruptions and to better track asteroids coming from the sunward direction, which are often hard to detect against sunlight.
Currently, over 40,000 near-Earth asteroids are known, with more than 95% of those at least 1 kilometer wide identified. However, only about 45% of those around 140 meters in size, which could inflict severe damage, have been detected. Recent journal articles and presentations to the United Nations provide further insights into China's plans. Specifically, a paper published in June 2026 highlighted four potential orbital positions for the monitoring network, including the Sun-Earth L1 Lagrange point, Earth-leading or trailing orbits, and others.
A 2025 presentation by Chinese researcher Chen Yongcai outlined basic and extended models for the satellite system. The basic model suggests a single satellite at Sun-Earth L1, complemented by ground stations, while the extended model incorporates additional spacecraft in the other identified orbits. These proposals also echo earlier initiatives like the CROWN project, aimed at monitoring the sunward sky.
Although details about timelines and the specific mechanics of these plans remain unclear, China's commitment to planetary defense is evident in its recent Five-Year Plan, which mentions an asteroid defense engineering project. This includes a kinetic-impact mission similar to NASA's DART mission, with the European Space Agency's Hera project set to launch in 2027.
Experts, such as Anne Virkki from the University of Helsinki, recognize the potential benefits of China's plans and hope for collaboration in sharing data internationally. She pointed out the challenges of tracking asteroids from the sun's direction and highlighted gaps in radar tracking capacity following the demise of the Arecibo Observatory in 2020. China’s development of its own radar capabilities could enhance global monitoring efforts, provided data is shared openly.
As planning advances, there are hopes that China's monitoring systems will complement existing global efforts, focusing on facilitating collaboration and enhancing overall asteroid tracking capabilities, particularly given the prediction of approximately 100,000 near-Earth asteroids that could significantly impact Earth. The International Year of Planetary Defense is slated for 2029, coinciding with the close approach of asteroid Apophis.