China has revealed ambitious space exploration plans calling for landing its Mars probe by 2020, a feat some claim would have been impossible for China's immature Mars exploration program without critical data provided by the Chinese spy, Professor Rongxing Li.

China's new space exploration plans revealed in a white paper released on Dec. 26 details its plans until 2022. It calls for landing a probe on the far side of the Moon by 2018 and the launch of China's first Mars mission -- a Mars landing mission -- by 2020.

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China's space program is an adjunct of the People's Liberation Army (PLA), one reason why the United States has refused to cooperate with China on the International Space Station, and in other space projects.

China said it's determined to speed up the development of its space industry. China's military-managed and funded space program has made remarkable strides since 2003 when it sent its first astronaut or taikonaut, Col. Yang Liwei, into space aboard the Shenzhou 5 spacecraft.

The extremely bold goals of China's first mission to Mars will see a lander touch down on the Red Planet and return samples to Earth -- a feat no country has ever successfully achieved.

That China has the gall to attempt an almost impossible goal for its maiden Mars mission confirms the key role played by Chinese spy Rongxing Li in fast tracking China's Mars exploration program.

Li, an esteemed and world famous NASA scientist, disappeared in September 2015 taking with him invaluable NASA secrets about its Mars program.

Li, 57, returned to China and while nothing much has been heard from him since he vanished, the incredible strides taken by China's Mars program indicates his key role in this quest.

Li was praised as a genius for his work in numerous NASA projects. These included the 2003 Mars Exploration Rover mission and the 2009 lunar orbiter currently orbiting the moon. He was participating scientist on both missions.

A world renowned specialist in geospatial information, remote sensing and photogammetry, Li's work at universities in the U.S., China and Canada led to decades of critical acclaim.

In 2014, Li was named a Fellow of the American Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing (ASPRS) in 2014 for his work in mapping sciences. ASPRS praised Li for his "unique leading position in planetary mapping." 

Tagschina, Mars, Professor Rongxing Li, People's Liberation Army, NASA, NASA curiosity rover