China became the third country to land a probe on the Moon on January 2. But, more importantly, it became the first to do so on the far side of the moon — often called the dark side. The ability to land on the far side of the moon is a technical achievement in its own right, one that neither Russia nor the United States has pursued. The probe, Chang’e 4, is symbolic of the growth of the Chinese space program and the capabilities it has amassed, significant for China and for relations among the great power across the world. The consequences…

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