BEIJING — Chinese scientists have been exploring ways to disrupt Elon Musk’s Starlink satellite network, including using submarines equipped with lasers, sabotaging supply chains and launching satellites designed to interfere with Starlink’s operations.
According to numerous published papers, experts working with the Chinese government and military see Starlink’s satellite system as a significant security risk, especially given its connections to the US military and intelligence agencies. The rapid growth of Starlink around the globe, offering low-cost and reliable internet even in remote places, has added to Beijing’s concerns.
A 2023 paper by professors from China’s National University of Defence Technology pointed out that Starlink’s links to US defence give it a clear strategic edge in military, space and cyber scenarios. As the US brings Starlink into its military strategy, China and other countries view the network as a growing security threat.
Concerns about Starlink’s control over satellite communications are shared by some US allies, who question the wisdom of giving such critical infrastructure — and the data it carries — to a private company led by a businessman whose loyalties can be unclear.
These worries grew after Russia’s 2022 attack on Ukraine showed the military benefits Starlink could provide. They also intensified as Musk’s personal and political interests expanded.
Musk has actively supported US politicians and entered the political arena himself, and his company, SpaceX, remains closely involved with federal agencies. SpaceX continues to secure major contracts to launch satellites for NASA and the US military, help recover stranded astronauts and build networks for US spy agencies.
With Starlink’s influence spreading, other countries have scrambled to build their alternatives. But SpaceX’s head start has given it significant control, which now ties together business, politics and global security.
Starlink’s Dominance in Space
Since launching in 2019, Starlink has grown to control nearly two-thirds of all active satellites. SpaceX now operates over 8,000 satellites and plans to deploy tens of thousands more. China’s concerns about Starlink’s military potential have driven research into possible countermeasures, though any action could affect Starlink customers in many countries as the satellites orbit the globe.
Starlink now operates in over 140 countries, recently entering markets such as Vietnam, Niger, Somalia, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Pakistan. In June, Starlink received approval to operate in India, overcoming regulatory and security objections to access a major market.
Starlink’s coverage map shows very few places remain out of reach, apart from North Korea, Iran and China.
No competitor has matched Starlink’s growth. Amazon’s Project Kuiper, led by Jeff Bezos, launched its first group of satellites in April and plans to deploy over 3,000, but currently has under 80 in orbit. London-based Eutelsat OneWeb operates about 650 satellites — a small share compared to its initial ambitions.
The European Union is investing heavily in its IRIS2 satellite programme, but it lags far behind and has urged EU member countries not to sign up with Starlink while its system is still in development.
“We are allies with the United States of America, but we need to have our strategic autonomy,” said Christophe Grudler, a French lawmaker involved in the IRIS2 project. “The risk is not having our destiny in our own hands.”
China aims to build its rival to Starlink, both to safeguard national security and to compete in overseas markets. In 2021, China established the state-owned SatNet company to launch a military-grade satellite network called Guowang. By December, it had sent 60 of a planned 13,000 satellites into orbit.
Shanghai-backed company Qianfan has launched 90 satellites so far, out of a goal of 15,000. Qianfan has signed deals with several countries, including Brazil, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Oman, Pakistan and Uzbekistan, and is targeting expansion across Africa.
Russia’s war in Ukraine heightens Strategic concerns
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022 put a spotlight on Starlink’s capabilities. Ukraine relied on Starlink for reliable battlefield communications and to control drones, giving it a key advantage. However, because Musk ultimately controls access, he was able to restrict coverage, such as refusing to extend services for a planned Ukrainian operation in Crimea.
Western tech sanctions on Russia highlighted the risks of depending on foreign-owned infrastructure in conflicts.
“Ukraine was a warning shot for the rest of us,” said Nitin Pai, co-founder of the Takshashila Institution in India. He compared the risk to concerns countries have had for years about relying on Chinese firms, pointing out that similar risks now apply to US technology providers.
Most of the 64 academic papers in Chinese journals covering Starlink were published after the war in Ukraine began.
China Investigating Starlink’s Weaknesses
China’s unease over Starlink’s global reach and possible military uses has pushed its scientists to analyze the network’s strengths and weak spots. Studies have looked into how China might learn from Starlink’s model while also identifying ways to neutralize it.
Although Starlink isn’t available in mainland China, its satellites still pass over Chinese territory. In 2023, researchers simulated Starlink’s coverage of critical regions such as Beijing, Taiwan and the polar areas, finding it could provide round-the-clock coverage of Beijing.
“The Starlink constellation coverage capacity of all regions in the world is improving steadily and in high speed,” one group of researchers noted.
A government-backed cybersecurity team mapped Starlink’s supply chain, identifying over 140 direct suppliers and warning of weak points in oversight.
Engineers with the People’s Liberation Army have proposed launching satellites that could track Starlink vehicles, intercept their signals and potentially damage equipment using corrosive materials or by interfering with solar panels.
Other academic suggestions include using international regulations and diplomacy to limit Starlink’s impact, while also preparing more direct defences like monitoring arrays with commercially available telescopes, creating fake targets, or using lasers to damage hardware.
American analysts argue these fears may be exaggerated, but this has not eased the debate within China. One paper was bluntly titled: “Watch out for that Starlink.”
Source: AP
