China on Thursday called on the United States to provide relevant data on its shooting down of a damaged US spy satellite.

China is continuing to closely follow the possible harm caused by the US action to outer space security and relevant countries, said the foreign ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao in response to a question on the US shootdown of an out-of-control spy satellite.

"China requests that the US fulfil its international obligations and promptly provide to the international community the necessary information so that relevant countries can take precautions." Liu said.

A missile launched from a US Navy cruiser shot down a dying and potentially deadly US spy satellite deployed in the North Pacific late Wednesday.

(Xinhua News Agency February 21, 2008)