Recently, the Chairman of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in the United States, Brendan Carr, stated that Europe should make a clear choice between American and Chinese communication technologies and value systems. He pointed out that the Chinese Communist Party is attempting to dominate the global tech order, and if Europe hesitates, it will lose its autonomy in key areas such as satellite communication and artificial intelligence (AI).
Carr emphasized that if Europe questions Elon Musk’s Starlink satellite network under SpaceX, it should be more concerned about the communication system being built by China. “If you have doubts about Starlink, just wait and see what China’s version looks like; you will be even more worried,” he said. Western democratic allies need to “focus on the real long-term threat – the expansion of the CCP.”
Starlink, operated by Musk’s SpaceX, provides global satellite broadband and partial mobile communication services. Last year, the US considered shutting down Starlink services in Ukraine, sparking discussions about the military and strategic nature of the technology. While Carr did not directly comment on Musk’s decision, he stressed that Europe should not base its national defense and communication on Chinese technology.
In fact, Europe has become increasingly aware of the risks of Chinese tech infiltration in recent years. The UK started excluding Huawei from 5G infrastructure in 2020, and Germany issued additional review requirements for Chinese suppliers in 2023. The EU also initiated the Cyber Resilience Act in 2024, stipulating that critical infrastructure must not rely on suppliers from “high-risk countries.”
However, Carr pointed out that Europe still harbors certain suspicions and protectionist tendencies towards American tech companies, which could hinder deeper cooperation with the US. He urged EU countries to work with the US to build a more secure communication ecosystem.
Carr highlighted that Europe is “caught between Washington and Beijing,” and a clear dividing line is gradually forming regarding “whether to align with China” in fields such as AI and satellite communication. He added that if Europe can establish its own satellite constellation, he would certainly welcome it. However, from a broader perspective, Europe is facing a divergence between American and Chinese tech and value systems, and now is the time to make a choice.
Currently, British telecom company BT and Virgin Media O2 are testing Starlink technology, but a comprehensive cooperation agreement has not been signed yet. While European satellite service providers like Eutelsat and SES have seen recent stock price increases, multiple experts warn that Europe lacks a single system comparable to Starlink’s global coverage capabilities.
Regarding supply chain security issues, Carr also urged European telecom giants Nokia and Ericsson to shift more manufacturing capacity to the US to avoid the impact of Trump’s tariff policies. He stated that if these companies expand their investments in the US, the FCC will consider providing expedited regulatory approvals to facilitate their technological advancement.
(This article references relevant reports from the Financial Times)