Over the past two decades, China has established itself as the world's second-largest space power after the USA. According to a new report from the Swedish Defence Research Agency (FOI), China continues to expand its space activities, with both civilian and military applications.

– It is the first time in a long while that a nation alone controls a space station. This says something about China's position as a major power in space, says Anna Maria Wårlind, a researcher at FOI, in a press release from the agency.

FOI points out that China views space as a strategic military arena. The country has expanded its own satellite navigation system, BeiDou, which now has more satellites than the American GPS system. China is also developing mega-constellations of satellites, similar to the American Starlink.