Why China fears Starlink
Economist
23-05-18 12:47
China is concerned about the potential impact the SpaceX-run Starlink could have on its geopolitical ambitions. Starlink, a mega-constellation of satellites, provides off-grid high-bandwidth internet access, and has been vital to Ukraine’s war effort, allowing soldiers to communicate, identify targets and upload videos. With the system hard to jam, China fears it could put Russia at a disadvantage and make a Chinese invasion of Taiwan more difficult. However, Beijing also has ambitions of becoming a space power and is working on its own satellite internet systems. Concerns over crowded crowded skies and satellite collision have also been raised. In 2021, two of Starlink’s satellites were on a collision course with a Chinese space station, forcing it to move, while China fears the increasing number of satellites could place pressure on a limited low-Earth orbit space.