Joint space research promising despite rhetoric

Despite tough rhetoric on China in the US presidential campaign, experts see space research as a unique opportunity for collaboration between the world's two largest space powers.

The campaign has emphasized rivalry with China — with the Democratic candidate, Vice-President Kamala Harris, vowing to ensure that "America, not China, wins the competition for the 21st century", and the Republican candidate, former president Donald Trump, threatening increased tariffs on Chinese goods to 60 percent or higher.

Washington, however, continues to pursue space-related dialogue with Beijing, particularly regarding Chinese lunar samples.