China announced security hazards for national defense linked to the global Starlink satellite network. This stance was voiced at the UN Security Council venue.
An informal UNSC meeting took place on December 29 at Russia’s instigation. During the discussion, the PRC representative pointed out that the rapid expansion of commercial satellite constellations, including the SpaceX project, poses grave security dangers in near-Earth space, RBC reports.
Arguments cited included 2021 incidents where Starlink satellites closely approached the Chinese orbital station, as well as the demise of one of the craft in December 2025. It was separately noted that some satellites are utilized for military purposes, including reconnaissance, and could be employed by terrorist and separatist groups.
Beijing holds that the involvement of commercial orbital systems in the military sphere heightens the perils of an arms race in space and undermines existing international security frameworks.
Presently, the Starlink satellite constellation comprises over 9,000 craft in low Earth orbit. In the future, there are plans to enlarge this to 42,000.
Against the backdrop of these remarks, China is actively developing its own mega-constellations of internet satellites. Among these is the broadband network “Guowang,” backed by Shanghai authorities and slated to exceed 15,000 craft by 2030, as well as the “Qianfan” project with a planned deployment of around 13,000 satellites.
Previously, the AP agency reported that Chinese scholarly papers explore methods to counter satellite networks. Proposals include utilizing low-observable underwater platforms with laser systems, specialized craft with ion engines, and deploying compact optical telescopes for continuous monitoring of the orbital environment.
Beijing emphasizes that the issue of commercial satellites extends beyond commerce and necessitates international governance.
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