Learning how to avoid and deal with asteroids, comets, etc. may be a more important survival skill. Man developing a system to protect Earth from asteroids and comets strikes may be the best justification for continued investment in space travel. But, we can leave that task to the Chinese. They are demonstrating that they are more responsible than we are.
Given their track record with environmental pollution, rare earth toxic wastes, and exploitation of human resources, I cannot have much confidence in their restraint to avoid dropping a rock on someone's head and denying responsibility. The Eisenhower and Kennedy Administrations were concerned about who had the High Ground, which sparked the race to the Moon and more than a few science fiction stories. Look who just conceded the High Ground after all of that expense and effort.