Apparently, China will be launching someone up into space in the next four days:
http://www.cnn.com/2003/TECH/space/10/13/china.space/index.html
As a backer of space exploration when it is actual exploration, I would like to send my best wishes to the one to three brave people about to be strapped to the rocket and shot off into 14 or so orbits.
I would also like to welcome a third space-faring nation into the fold and remind the US government that a little competition never hurt.