WASHINGTON, May 21, 2025 (BSS/AFP) - US President Donald Trump has announced 
new details and initial funding for his "Golden Dome" missile shield system, 
with geopolitical rival China accusing Washington on Wednesday of undermining 
global stability.

Trump on Tuesday announced $25 billion earmarked for the project, which he 
said could eventually cost a total of around $175 billion and would be 
operational in about three years.

Beijing hit back Wednesday, denouncing Golden Dome as a threat to 
international security and accusing the United States of fueling an arms 
race.

"In the campaign I promised the American people I would build a cutting-edge 
missile defense shield," Trump said at the White House on Tuesday.

"Today I am pleased to announce we have officially selected architecture for 
this state-of-the-art system."

"Once fully constructed, the Golden Dome will be capable of intercepting 
missiles even if they are launched from other sides of the world, and even if 
they are launched from space," Trump said.

"This is very important for the success and even survival of our country."

He said US Space Force General Michael Guetlein will lead the effort, and 
that Canada has expressed interest in being part of it as "they want to have 
protection also."

While Trump put the total price at about $175 billion, the Congressional 
Budget Office has estimated the cost of space-based interceptors to defeat a 
limited number of intercontinental ballistic missiles at between $161 billion 
and $542 billion over 20 years.

Golden Dome has more expansive goals, with Trump saying it "will deploy next-
generation technologies across the land, sea and space, including space-based 
sensors and interceptors."

Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth, speaking alongside Trump, said the system is 
aimed at protecting "the homeland from cruise missiles, ballistic missiles, 
hypersonic missiles, drones, whether they're conventional or nuclear."

- China, Russia oppose Golden Dome -

The plan's Golden Dome name stems from Israel's Iron Dome air defense system 
that has intercepted thousands of short-range rockets and other projectiles 
since it went into operation in 2011.

The United States faces various missile threats from adversaries, but they 
differ significantly from the short-range weapons that Israel's Iron Dome is 
designed to counter.

The 2022 Missile Defense Review pointed to growing threats from China and 
Russia.

Beijing is closing the gap with Washington when it comes to ballistic and 
hypersonic missile technology, while Moscow is modernizing its 
intercontinental-range missile systems and developing advanced precision 
strike missiles, the document said.

It also said that the threat of drones -- which have played a key role in the 
Ukraine war -- is likely to grow, and warned of the danger of ballistic 
missiles from North Korea and Iran, as well as rocket and missile threats 
from non-state actors.

Beijing on Wednesday expressed "serious concern" over the plan, saying it 
undercuts "global strategic balance and stability."

"The United States puts its own interests first and is obsessed with seeking 
its own absolute security, which violates the principle that no country's 
security should come at the expense of others," foreign ministry spokeswoman 
Mao Ning said at a regular briefing.

"(The plan) heightens the risk of space becoming a battlefield, fuels an arms 
race, and undermines international security," Mao added.

China this month had already joined Russia in slamming the concept as "deeply 
destabilizing".

It "explicitly provides for a significant strengthening of the arsenal for 
conducting combat operations in space," said a statement published by the 
Kremlin after talks between the two sides.

The United States has gained valuable real-world experience in defending 
against missiles and drones in recent years.

In Ukraine, US systems have been used to counter advanced Russian missiles, 
while American planes and warships helped defend Israel against Iranian 
attacks last year and have repeatedly shot down missiles and drones launched 
at ships by Yemen's Tehran-backed Huthi rebels.