That's the Comet and Asteroid Protection System, and whoever gets it, if they get it alone, will have sole world leadership in space.

China has sufficient reasons to go it alone if necessary. The first Emperor of China was killed by impact, and it appears their trading fleet was destroyed by an impact mega-tsunami in 1431 or so.

But the "alone" part will be a decision for 2016. Let us hope and work for a better future for everyone.

European history in the Americas only goes back a little more than 400 years. My book "Man and Impact in the Americas" fills in the other 50,000 years, roughly. Very roughly, indeed, but filled in none the less.