China postpones Chang'e-7 lunar mission to 2027 amid weather concerns

China has delayed its Chang'e-7 lunar south pole mission, originally scheduled for late August 2026, to the following year. While the official cause remains unconfirmed, the postponement coincides with an approaching tropical storm at the Wenchang launch site. The delay is unlikely to alter the long-term strategic competition between the U.S. and China for lunar infrastructure dominance.