Chinese authorities recently penalised a foreign vessel for illegally using Starlink within Chinese waters. According to a South China Morning Post report, the satellite-based internet service offered by Elon Musk’s SpaceX – is banned in China and is viewed as a national security threat. In fact, the company has not been given licence to operate in the country. As a result, vessels equipped with Starlink terminals are required to stop using them when they enter Chinese territory.

Why China calls SpaceX a national security threat

China has a series of laws and regulations that prohibits foreign companies from operating basic telecoms services in the country. This includes satellite-based internet service. Further, satellite communication within the country must be routed through a domestic gateway. Also, any company or individual using radio devices or frequencies within China must obtain an official approval.

Elon Musk’s Starlink service, which is essentially a vast constellation of low-orbit satellites, has not been granted this permission in China. According to an AP report, Chinese researchers believe that Starlink “poses a high risk to the Chinese government and its strategic interests” as Starlink’s communications are routed through overseas gateways rather than domestic infrastructure.The new agency quoted a 2023 paper published by the China’s National University of Defense Technology which said “As the United States integrates Starlink technology into military space assets to gain a strategic advantage over its adversaries, other countries increasingly perceive Starlink as a security threat in nuclear, space, and cyber domains.”

China aims to break Starlink’s monopoly

The US-based SpaceX currently holds a monopoly in the satellite internet connectivity technology. According to its latest data, Starlink operates in more than 140 countries. In June this year, the company obtained a license to operate in India, overcoming national security concerns in the country. SpaceX’s Falcon 9 is the only reusable rocket model that the company uses regularly to launch and put satellites into orbit. China’s private rocket firm LandSpace carried out a full reusable rocket test with the launch of its new Zhuque-3 model earlier this month. While the launch failed, a flurry of Chinese state-owned and private players are now rushing to test launch their own reusable rockets, says a Reuters report.