NASA suspends relations with Russia space agency

[jakeXT]

15. China wanted to participate and Russia tried to lobby for them

China wants in, but the U.S. may not allow it

Chinese space officials today announced the country is still willing to work alongside the United States on extraterrestrial endeavors, especially the International Space Station.

"We sincerely hope to conduct cooperation with the United States in the field of space," said Li Xueyong, Vice Minister of Space and Technology. "At some point we hope to take part in the activities relating to international space stations."
- See more at: http://www.dailytech.com/China+Wants+to+Join+International+Space+Station+Project/article9290.htm

China Has Not Been Invited to Join International Space Station, NASA Says

..

The comment came after Russia's Federal Space Agency posted a news report to its website that suggested Russian space officials had reached out to China's space program for involvement in the International Space Station.

The report cited comments made by Russian space agency chief Anatoly Perminov to the Interfax news service last week at the International Economic Forum in St. Petersburg. In the Interfax report, Perminov reportedly said Russia had contacted Chinese space officials to see if there was any interest in using the latter country's Shenzhou vehicles as a backup for the Russian Soyuz space taxis that ferry crews to and from the space station.

..

http://www.space.com/8675-china-invited-join-international-space-station-nasa.html