China is taking steps to counter what it sees as a potent threat: Elon Musk’s armada of Starlink communications satellites. The country has published dozens of papers in public journals that explore ways to hunt and destroy Musk’s satellites, including the use of stealth submarines fitted with space-shooting lasers, supply-chain sabotage, and custom-built attack satellites armed with ion thrusters.
Beijing is concerned about Starlink’s potential use by adversaries in a military confrontation and for spying. The company’s close ties to the US intelligence and defense establishment, as well as its growing global footprint, have fueled these concerns. Chinese researchers believe that Starlink poses a high risk to the country’s government and strategic interests.
The concerns are not limited to China; some traditional US allies are also questioning the wisdom of handing over core communications infrastructure to a company run by an unpredictable foreign businessman whose allegiances are not always clear. Russia’s 2022 full-scale invasion of Ukraine has highlighted the battlefield advantages Starlink satellites could convey, further exacerbating these concerns.
To counter this threat, China is developing its own version of Starlink, known as Guowang, which will be launched by a state-owned company called China SatNet. The country also plans to launch a megaconstellation with military capabilities, with 13,000 planned satellites. Qianfan, a company backed by the Shanghai government, has launched 90 satellites and is targeting customers in several countries.
The European Union is also taking steps to develop its own satellite array, known as IRIS2, but remains woefully behind. Beijing’s tendency to view Starlink as a tool of US military power has sharpened its efforts to develop countermeasures.
While some analysts say Beijing’s fears may be overblown, domestic debate continues. China is taking a proactive approach to address these concerns, including deploying small optical telescopes to monitor Starlink arrays and creating deep fakes to create fictitious targets.
Musk’s company has near monopoly power in the global satellite market, with 8,000 active satellites and plans to deploy tens of thousands more. This dominance has sparked a global scramble for viable alternatives, but SpaceX remains the only player in the game.
As Starlink continues to expand its global footprint, concerns about its potential use by adversaries will likely persist. China’s efforts to develop countermeasures demonstrate its commitment to addressing these concerns and protecting its national interests.
Source: https://apnews.com/article/spacex-musk-starlink-china-satellites-759e53143378357ce3af21ca8a6916df