Will the US and China sign a space cooperation agreement before 2029?

The Wolf Amendment (since 2011) prohibits NASA from bilateral cooperation with China without specific congressional authorization. Repealing or modifying this restriction requires an act of Congress, and the current bipartisan consensus on China competition makes this politically toxic. While both nations have an interest in space debris mitigation and planetary defense, the geopolitical environment of strategic competition makes a formal cooperation agreement extremely unlikely. Even limited agreements on debris or safety would face intense congressional scrutiny.

Last updated: Mar 2, 2026

Resolves YES if the US and China sign a formal bilateral agreement on any aspect of space cooperation before January 1, 2029. The agreement must be more substantial than a joint statement — it must involve specific cooperative activities.

Source: US State Department / NASA / Chinese National Space Administration (CNSA)

Expected resolution: January 15, 2029