Starlink Causes Concern In China As Researchers Want Capability To Shoot Satellites Down

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SpaceX's Starlink satellite internet constellation is the cause of significant debate in China as researchers consider developing similar technologies and those to shoot down the satellites or limit the Starlink internet service. Starlink has played an important role in Ukraine's defense against the Russian invasion, enabling the Ukrainian military to maintain battlefield communications and the general population to ensure Internet access after Ukraine's communications networks were targeted. Chinese researchers believe that Starlink's success in Ukraine will prompt Western nations to deploy the service in Asia in case of possible hostilities.

Starlink's use in Ukraine has been a cause of controversy both within Russia and in the West. SpaceX quickly shipped its satellite user dishes to Ukraine as the invasion started last year. Still, matters between SpaceX and the U.S. government soured later on when reports about funding the cost of Starlink in Ukraine started to surface. Things settled when SpaceX's chief Mr. Elon Musk publicly announced that his company would continue to fund Starlink in Ukraine. The firm's president, Ms. Gwynne Shotwell, confirmed later that she had asked the Pentagon to contribute to Ukraine costs. Ukraine's minister of information also highlighted earlier this year that Starlink's contribution in Ukraine had crossed $100 million.

With this backdrop, the Ukrainian military's ability to restore its communications through Starlink is causing concern among Chinese researchers. A Reuters investigation that dug through 100 research papers in Chinese journals covering