India, Japan, South Korea and China are all competing for ascendancy and popular glory. In the competition to be among the world's new powers, space is an important frontier.

The US is looking on with interest, but is not alarmed about the situation and has almost no interest in responding with a competitive stance.

This relaxed viewpoint is because China is still four decades or so behind the US in its technological capabilities in space and, while they are closing the gap fast, it will be some time before China is in direct competition with the US in this field.

China's space ambitions can be fruitfully compared to the 19th century imperial adven-tures of European nations.

Many then recently created European countries, such as Belgium, Germany, and Italy, followed Britain's lead in carving up the globe in an effort to confirm their status as a nation-state.

Asian space exploration is not driven by the same urge, but is a way of pursuing legitimacy in the eyes of the developed world, as well as appealing to domestic needs.

Through the space program, China not only gains legitimacy as a functioning and capable nation in the eyes of outside observers, but more importantly, it gains legitimacy among its own people.

Success in space is a huge boost to national pride and a strong sign of advances barely thought possible a decade earlier.

The official standpoint regarding China's space program is that it represents the fundamental task of humanity to research humanity's origin and develop a sustainable lifestyle, as stated by Qian Weiping, a chief designer of the Chang'e-2 mission.

Qian went on to say that it is China's responsibility to carry out such research, rather than an act of imitation.

Whether out of responsibility, or a desire to prove to the rest of the world that they are indeed capable of success in space, a large element of pride is at play within the motivating factors, evidenced by Qian's declaration to the nation that "we will shorten the gap (between China and the US/Russia) fast."

China's space program is ambitious, but has a long way to go.

But nobody seriously doubts that China will meet its goals in space, advertising both to foreigners and to a domestic audience its new status as a technological power.

The author is a freelance writer based in Beijing. viewpoint@ globaltimes.com.cn