Recently, Shanghai Yuanxin Satellite Technology Co., Ltd., following the example of the US “Starlink,” launched 18 satellites, marking the beginning of the “Qianfan Constellation” project. The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) is extremely wary of the US “Starlink” and “Starshield,” with its military researchers exploring ways to disrupt these systems. Experts say that while the CCP is vying for space resources and challenging the US, the “China Starlink” still faces many technical hurdles.
Shanghai Yuanxin Satellite Technology Co., Ltd. (Yuanxin Satellite), on August 6, launched the first batch of 18 commercial networking satellites for the “Qianfan Constellation” (G60 Starlink Project), which entered the planned orbit, seen as the official start of the “China version Starlink” project.
The launch took place on August 6 at the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center in Shanxi Province, using the Long March 6 modified carrier rocket. Yuanxin Satellite is a holding company under the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission of Shanghai Municipality, established by Shanghai United Investment Co., Ltd. in March 2018.
Yuanxin Satellite officially launched the “Qianfan Constellation” project in 2023, including a three-generation satellite system. GEN1: Launch 648 satellites for regional network coverage services by the end of 2025; GEN2: Launch 648 satellites for global network coverage services by the end of 2027; GEN3: is expected to build a network system of 14,000 (some say 15,000) satellites, offering services like direct mobile connections and others.
Currently, the US’s “Starlink” is the largest and most commercially valuable satellite internet constellation project globally. On August 2, 2024, SpaceX launched the 183rd batch of “Starlink” satellites, bringing the total to 6,829. It is projected that the total number of “Starlink” satellites could reach 40,000 in the future.
The launch of the “Starlink” project in 2018 prompted the CCP to see the enormous potential market of 6G in the future. Simultaneously, it also brought fears due to its potential threat to the CCP’s Great Firewall. Thus, in September 2020, the CCP authorities submitted the “GW” (Guowang) broadband constellation plan to the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), aiming to launch 12,992 low-orbit satellites within 7 years.
Military commentator Mark of the program “Mark’s Time and Space” told Dajiyuan that the birth of the US “Starlink,” especially its role in the Russo-Ukrainian war, has made the CCP particularly wary, especially regarding its military implications, leading to the emulation and creation of the “China Starlink.”
Professor Lin Zongnan from the Department of Electrical Engineering and the Institute of Telecommunications Engineering at National Taiwan University told Dajiyuan that despite China’s dismal economic situation, the decision to invest heavily in the “China Starlink” to develop a low-orbit satellite communications system aims to demonstrate self-sufficiency and military preparedness against the US.
The “Qianfan Constellation” project is China’s second large low-orbit satellite constellation. Currently, the CCP has planned three “Ten Thousand Star Constellation” projects, including the “Qianfan Constellation,” “GW Constellation,” and “Honghu-3.”
The “GW Constellation” is led by China Satellite Network Group Co., Ltd. (China Satellite Network), while “Honghu-3” is led by Shanghai Blue Arrow Hongqing Technology Co., Ltd. According to preliminary filing information submitted to the ITU by the company, the “Honghu-3” constellation project aims to launch 10,000 satellites on 160 orbital planes.
Mark mentioned that the two major groups, the “Qianfan Constellation” and the “GW Constellation,” represent Shanghai and Beijing factions, respectively, engaging in resource competition. The GW Constellation started earlier but progressed slower, whereas the Qianfan Constellation, despite starting late, has taken the first step.
The “Qianfan Constellation” project is considered the CCP’s counter to the US, challenging the US’s global network coverage service with “Starlink.” Simultaneously, the CCP is also seizing near-earth orbit and frequencies, constructing its own network system to ensure data security.
Currently, the ITU follows a “first come, first served” policy for satellite frequency bands and orbital planning. With the limited frequency bands and rapid growth of satellite networks, frequencies and orbits have become strategic space resources. Countries are now developing higher frequency bands like Q and V, transitioning from low-frequency to high-frequency satellite communications.
Elon Musk’s SpaceX established the “Starshield” department in December last year, developing a satellite network for the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO). These satellites can rapidly capture continuous images of ground activities worldwide, significantly enhancing the US military’s ability to detect potential threats.
“Starshield” is a project specifically serving the US government, defense, and intelligence sectors, independent of “Starlink.” It utilizes the technology and launch capabilities of “Starlink” to provide data encryption and battlefield information services for the government. The “Starshield” project plans to deploy at least 15,000 satellites in near-earth orbit within three years, by approximately the end of 2025.
The services provided by “Starshield” include Earth imaging, communications, and hosted payloads, the latter being instruments for deploying various equipment on the military satellite platform.
Ou Xifu, director of the CCP’s Politburo and Concept Research Institute at the Taiwan Institute for National Defense and Security Studies, told Dajiyuan that “Starlink is a commercial version, while Starshield is a military version with confidentiality functions, more secretive and reliable. The development of the CCP’s Starlink lags behind the US, and Yuanxin Satellite’s launch indicates its attempt to catch up urgently.”
Ou Xifu stated that the CCP’s development of “Guowang” aims to counter the US “Starlink,” compete for orbit and bandwidth resources, and utilize them for military purposes. However, while “Starlink” can launch 60 satellites at once, the CCP can currently carry a maximum of only 28 satellites, slowing its launch speed. According to the ITU’s regulations, satellite frequency units must be applied for within 7 years for satellite launch and signal verification. Therefore, the CCP’s “Guowang” must complete the above tasks by November 9, 2027.
Ou Xifu emphasized that the US’s “Starshield” program will fully expose the CCP’s military secrets. Even though the CCP ambitiously develops the “Guowang” program, it still faces technical and launch barriers.
Mark also pointed out that the CCP’s satellite launches are costly, with weak launch capabilities and speed issues. Last year, during the Munich Security Conference, Secretary of Space Force Operations of the US Space Force Salsman warned that there had been fundamental changes in space in recent years, with the CCP posing the most challenging threat. Strategic adversaries are producing various weapons, including anti-satellite missiles and orbit interception technologies, some of which have been utilized.
As early as 2020, the US Space Force and intelligence agencies highlighted that the CCP and Russia were developing and deploying ground-based laser anti-satellite weapons and other anti-satellite capabilities, posing threats to the US and space systems. The CCP military has deployed ground-based anti-satellite missiles to attack low-orbit satellites. Furthermore, the CCP military is developing and testing other related technologies, including potential technologies to “grab and capture” US military satellites.
The CCP began conducting anti-satellite tests in 2005, launched the DN-1 anti-satellite missile in 2007, which destroyed the decommissioned “Fengyun-1” meteorological satellite. Subsequently, it developed second and third-generation anti-satellite missiles covering low, medium, and high orbits. Additionally, satellites have been developed for anti-satellite tests, equipped with mechanical arms for varying orbits.
CCP military researchers wrote an article in “Modern Defense Technology” in 2022 titled “Current Development and Countermeasures Against the Starlink Project.” After analyzing various capabilities of “Starlink,” it concluded that the US’s “Starlink” poses “potential risks and challenges” to the CCP. It suggested strengthening research on space combat systems requirements, satellite frequency orbit resource declaration and reserves, developing various new countermeasures, including “adopting a combination of soft and hard killing methods to render some ‘Starlink’ satellites dysfunctional and disrupt the constellation system.”
CCP military researchers also suggested implementing “soft killing” attacks on reconnaissance systems that the “Starlink” may carry out using lasers, high-frequency microwaves, and interfering with network intrusion and control methods, incapacitating the “Starlink” system.
An article published by CCP media in June last year stated that in future space warfare, rapidly and effectively seizing near-earth orbit resources is crucial in determining victory. It emphasizes the importance of breaking the encirclement of “Starlink,” asserting that controlling near-earth orbits is equivalent to controlling near-earth space, dominating the Earth, and “determining the fate of humanity.”
Mark believes that with current human technology, no means can destroy the “Starlink” system. Therefore, it guarantees the US’s military superiority, ensuring consistent and secure communication during wartime, a prospect that the CCP greatly fears.
Lin Zongnan stated that the CCP does not consider human rights and the well-being of its people; all technological developments serve military purposes. The CCP is willing to engage in a war with the US to compete for hegemony, even at the cost of a conflict.
Lin Zongnan believes that Western countries doing business with the CCP are essentially providing resources to an authoritarian regime, aiding its growth. Ultimately, this will lead to the CCP bullying the world and potentially controlling all of humanity. Therefore, “the US, EU, Japan, Taiwan, and other democratic societies need to have a very accurate understanding of the CCP.”