Zacharia is already under scrutiny over her legal credentials, after giving an inconclusive answer about where she had passed the bar exam, a prerequisite for practicing law in the United States.
Taiwan's President Lai Ching-te condemned the incident and criticised China for its blatant disregard of human rights and suppression of personal freedoms, in what he labelled a "barbaric" act.
Once a hunting ground for Cold War bragging rights, space has evolved into a key strategic arena, as states jostle for a military and technological edge.