Some critics voice concern over the waste of money at a time when there are still millions of poor. Shenzhou VI may come home earlier than expected.

Beijing (AsiaNews/Agencies) – China's two-men, five-day space mission is generating national price but also criticism over the "waste" of money. Shenzhou VI might even land in the Gobi deposit only three days into its mission.

Jiang Jingshan, a designer with the Chinese Lunar Orbiting Exploration programme, said the return date may be advanced due to poor weather and had nothing to do with technical factors.

Japan, the United States and Russia congratulated China on the successful launch of its manned space mission, but in China itself people are asking themselves whether the money was well spent or just waster.  It is an open debate on internet sites.

""It is a great feat which enhances Chinese self-esteem and China's national defence power, and positions the country as a giant in the world," one respondent said.

"Let us pray for a safe return [of the astronauts]," another contributor said.

Chinese political leaders and space programme officials stressed "national pride" in their comments.

Prime Minister Wen Jiabao spoke of a "glorious and sacred mission", of a "great achievement" that would go down "in the annals of the history of the Chinese people."

"The entire nation has waited, the entire world is watching the success of the Shenzhou VI manned space launch," he said

When Shenzhou V was launched in 2003, there was limited media coverage; this time, it was live—a rare event for official events in China—with the press present, albeit restricted to Chinese journalists.

Increasingly, observers are viewing China's space programme as a stepping stone in upgrading its military capabilities and acquisition of technical and scientific know-how.

After congratulating China "from the bottom of our heart," Chief Cabinet Secretary Hiroyuki Hosoda said after the launch of Shenzhou VI that Japan was not competing with China, that it had chosen to concentrate on satellites and other unmanned technology to observe the Earth, which it says is less costly and more beneficial. It is also expected to develop its own manned spacecraft, similar to the US space shuttle.

Born into families of poor farmers in remote villages, the two astronauts—Fei Junlong and Nie Haisheng—have become the darlings of Chinese media. The latter have called for greater respect for farmers, criticising those who say farmers are ignorant since "they are parents of national heroes".

This said the space mission has also found its critics. Most negative opinions said the money spent on space travel was a waste when millions of people lacked adequate food and clothing.

"Why should we be so excited? Can the lift-off make a tiny change to the daily life of us poor workers managing to live on a matter of hundreds of yuan a month?" one message read.

Other critics warned the government to keep tight control over the space programme to avoid corruption.

Those in favour stressed how it can have economic spin-offs and benefit the country.  (PB)

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