The first nation with a working battle station in orbit with particle beam and laser weapons pretty much will be in control for, say 1000 years. Whose flag would you like to be painted on it?
Excellent point. My first thought when I heard China announce it's aggressive plan to go to the moon was that they would be wanting to militarize it. I'm certain that is what is driving our own return more than using it as a jumping off point to go to Mars.