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Foreign media look at FAST: Does the dark forest rule that Liu Cixin say?
According to foreign media reports, China has constructed the world's largest 500-meter spherical telescope, known as FAST, nestled in the karst mountains of Guizhou Province. One of its primary purposes is to detect signals from extraterrestrial civilizations. Recently, Ross Anderson, a senior deputy editor at *The Atlantic Monthly*, visited the region and engaged in a deep conversation with renowned Chinese science fiction writer Liu Cixin, discussing differing perspectives on the "dark forest" theory.
In January of last year, the Chinese Academy of Sciences invited Liu Cixin, one of China’s most celebrated science fiction authors, to visit the newly completed radio telescope in southwest China. This massive structure is currently the largest of its kind, surpassing even the Arecibo Observatory in Puerto Rico in size. Its precision is so remarkable that it could potentially detect a signal from a spy satellite without any external transmission. While primarily used for scientific research, it also serves a unique purpose: acting as the first Earth-based device designed to monitor potential signals from alien civilizations. If intelligent extraterrestrial life sends out messages in the next decade, China may be among the first to receive them.
It makes sense why Liu Cixin was invited to tour this facility. He has long been a prominent voice in China’s space exploration discussions, and the China National Space Administration sometimes consults him on various scientific projects. Liu is widely regarded as a leading figure in Chinese science fiction, often affectionately called “Liu Liu†by his peers. Over the years, engineers from the National Astronomical Observatories have kept him informed about the progress of the telescope, showing how his work continues to inspire those involved in the project.
However, inviting Liu Cixin to visit such a powerful tool raises some interesting questions. In his novels, he explores the dangers of contacting alien civilizations. He warns that the emergence of other intelligent species could pose an existential threat to humanity. In the postscript of one of his books, he wrote: “Perhaps after ten thousand years, the sky will remain silent. But maybe when we wake up again, we’ll see Earth’s orbit filled with alien spacecraft the size of the Moon.â€
Liu Cixin has become a global literary figure. His novel *The Three-Body Problem* won the Hugo Award for Best Novel in 2015. Even U.S. President Barack Obama mentioned that the book provided him with a new perspective on cosmology during his presidency. According to Liu, Obama’s team even asked for a sample of the third book in the trilogy.
In the second part of the trilogy, a central character outlines the core idea of the series: no civilization should reveal its existence to the universe. Once another civilization detects you, it may view you as a threat and eliminate you. This grim vision of the cosmos is known as the “dark forest rule,†comparing civilizations to hunters hiding in the dark, listening for signs of others.
The story begins in the late 1960s when a young Chinese woman sends messages to nearby galaxies. The receiving civilization then initiates a centuries-long plan to invade Earth. The woman, however, remains indifferent to human survival. The alien particles disrupt Earth’s particle accelerators, stalling the development of physics worldwide.
Science fiction often reflects future possibilities, but it also draws from historical allegories. Isaac Asimov’s *Foundation* mirrors ancient Rome, while Frank Herbert’s *Dune* echoes Bedouin culture. Liu Cixin, however, prefers not to tie his work directly to real-world events. He says his inspiration comes from the history of Earth’s civilizations, especially encounters between more advanced societies and indigenous cultures—similar to what happened in the 19th century when China remained isolated until European powers arrived.
This summer, I traveled to China to visit the newly completed observatory. Before arriving in Beijing, I met Liu Cixin. We talked extensively about the adaptation of *The Three-Body Problem* into a film. “People want it to be the Chinese version of Star Wars,†he said, looking somewhat resigned. The movie was shot in mid-2015 but is still in post-production. The entire effects team changed during the process. “When it comes to making sci-fi films, our system isn’t mature enough,†Liu admitted.
I considered Liu Cixin the most important thinker in China regarding potential contact with alien civilizations, but I also wanted to know what he thought about visiting the new telescope. After my translator conveyed the question, Liu paused, put out his cigarette, and laughed.
He said, “It seems beyond the realm of science fiction.â€
A week later, I took a high-speed train from Shanghai, heading south along an elevated track. The towering buildings on either side gradually faded behind me. Each city seemed to be made of glass and steel, reflecting the modern age. Between 2011 and 2013, China poured more concrete than the entire United States did in the 20th century. The country is now building railways across Africa and hopes to extend its high-speed rail network to Europe—and even North America via a tunnel under the Bering Strait.
As the train moved inland, the skyscrapers and cranes gave way to lush rice fields and rolling hills. It felt like stepping back in time, recalling ancient China, which once spread its influence across Asia through trade, technology, and infrastructure. When I reached the western part of the journey, the hills grew steeper, and the landscape became more dramatic. At times, the train passed through tunnels where the windows lit up with bright white light, and the sound of the train echoed through the carriages.
At noon, I arrived at Guiyang Railway Station, the capital of Guizhou Province—one of China’s poorest and most remote regions. The station itself was a striking, modern structure. Signs urging passengers to maintain a good atmosphere were everywhere, and announcements reminded people to behave politely. When an elderly man suddenly sat down on the platform, a security guard quickly intervened, pulling him away in front of many onlookers.
The next morning, I walked through the hotel lobby and met the driver who would take me to the observatory. The journey lasted four hours. After two hours of driving, we stopped near a field where an old woman was harvesting rice. The driver asked her for directions to the observatory, 100 kilometers away. Due to language barriers, they communicated slowly, and eventually, the woman pointed in a direction with her scythe.
We set off again, passing through small villages and encountering motorbikes and pedestrians along the roadside. Some buildings had traditional eaves, while others were newly built, with residents relocated from the area around the observatory.