Before the International Space Station was launched into orbit in 1998, the U.S. signed a document with several other countries to agree to the peaceful use of the orbital laboratory. The agreement included Russia, Japan, Canada, and 11 European countries, while China was left out of the plan.
In 2011, Congress gave clear direction to NASA to prohibit collaboration with China in certain scientific research, including in space, citing concerns about China's secretive program and military ties.
