China is aiming to involve 50 countries in its International Lunar Research Station (ILRS) project at the moon’s south pole. Chief designer Wu Weiren stated the goal is to attract 500 international scientific research institutions and 5,000 researchers by 2035. By 2045, an extended Lunar Research Station is expected to be complete. The ILRS aims to facilitate scientific exploration and resource development, with precursor missions planned for the late 2020s. This initiative follows China’s broader diplomatic efforts, particularly in the Global South.

China has already signed agreements with over 10 countries and 30 research institutions. So far, Russia, Venezuela, Belarus, Pakistan, Azerbaijan, South Africa, Egypt, Nicaragua, Thailand, Serbia, and Kazakhstan have agreed to be part of the ILRS project, with Turkey expected to apply to join. BRICS and Western countries are welcome to join, however China is continuing to focus on the Global South, as this also mirrors the country’s wider diplomatic aspirations.  Although the ILRS was announced jointly between China and Russia, China has taken the lead diplomatically following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. 

Cybersecurity for the ILRS should be of importance to all countries involved. Since there are multiple countries and institutions involved, cybersecurity must be robust to protect data and prevent cyber espionage and intellectual property theft. There are probably also different cybersecurity standards among the different countries part of the ILRS. Therefore, it is important to have a uniform cybersecurity protocol that all countries involved must follow. Another important reason to place a strong emphasis on cybersecurity is related to the current geopolitical tensions. The heightened tensions could lead to state-sponsored actors attacking the ILRS for strategic advantages. In addition, if there are infrastructure vulnerabilities, this would result in the communication networks being targeted for cyber attacks. 

Reference: https://spacenews.com/china-wants-50-countries-involved-in-its-ilrs-moon-base/