GO CHINA!

What happened:
China recently, for their own reasons, fired on their own satellite in space, destroying it and creating debris that will last for 25 years or more.

And?
America is panicking.

Why?
Firstly, the obvious. If China can do that to its own satellite, it can do that to American satellites. Many American satellites are closer in orbit than the Chinese one that was destroyed (of course, the fact that some of these satellites are probably used for imagery for US intelligence probably adds to the paranoia).

Secondly, America is most likely setting the table (plates, cutlery, salt, pepper and all) to eat their own words. Before the Chinese, the only nations to perform outer space weapons testing are the States and the Soviet Union. They've long been averse to the global treaty to ban weaponization of outer space, unlike the Chinese and the Russians who want to keep the vacuum peaceful, so it's extremely ironic that they're all worked up about a little testing.

What, it's fine to have the potential to blow things up so long as it's just America?

China's motivations are unclear. Some defense analysts believe it's a way of saying "Mine's just as big, sucka" or simply what it is - testing out developed technology. Some believe it's a Cold War strategy - a not-so-subtle way of twisting America's arm towards the negotiation table for the aforementioned global anti-outer-space-weaponization treaty.

Think about it though, China has already established itself as an economic super-entity. If it were the former choices, China would have to be unbelievably ignorant if to not see the panic their actions would potentially cause, and this would probably go against the Chinese super money-making reflexes (well, there are ways to profit from war, but it's probably a lot harder if you're one of the contenders). The Chinese claim that they've been very cautious with defense technology development, being very careful so as not to trip the American alarm wires, which points towards the latter - careful usage of weapons technology in an effort to intimidate and (peacefully) drive the Americans towards the negotiation table.

I mean, see it from the Chinese point of view. They're an up and coming nation, and there exists a superpowerful, paranoid nation that wants the ability to use their guns without restrictions and has already declared war several times recently in an age where we should be worried about how to make moolah and love and where war for many of us is a theme for Hollywood.

In view of everything, if China's telling the truth, I personally think it's an awesome tactic. Subtle but efficient. (Well, they did litter outer space with debris that is estimated to last 25 years or more - the last test debris took 17 years to clear - but it's outer space. I mean, no one goes there.)

If they're not, we're doomed.

Ah well.