Summary by Geopolist | Istanbul Center for Geopolitics
China’s recent launch of 18 low-Earth orbit (LEO) satellites by Qianfan is a significant milestone in the country’s efforts to compete with Starlink, a satellite internet provider located in the United States. In order to compete with Starlink’s projected constellation of 42,000 satellites, Qianfan intends to launch a constellation consisting of 14,000 satellites. Despite the fact that Qianfan is now falling behind, China’s push into satellite internet is being driven by military and geopolitical objectives. When it comes to increasing its influence around the world, particularly in countries such as Africa and Asia where connectivity is restricted, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) considers satellite internet to be an essential tool for ensuring safe communication in the event of future confrontations, such as those that may arise over Taiwan.
As a result of the conflict in Ukraine, China has gained a better understanding of the significance of satellite internet from a military point of view. Starlink has provided Ukraine with a significant advantage in terms of coordinating field operations and drone attacks. With the goal of establishing an autonomous system that is not subject to the supervision of the United States, China considers this technology to be crucial for its own military strategies. Furthermore, if China were to be able to create and manipulate its very own satellite internet networks, it would be in a position to gain a strategic advantage in the event of future geopolitical crises.
Additionally, China intends to employ satellite internet for the purpose of expanding its geopolitical influence, in addition to military reasons. China has previously collaborated with a number of countries to construct digital infrastructure and mobile networks as part of its Digital Silk Road (DSR) plan. Through the provision of internet connectivity to underserved places, particularly in Africa, satellite internet has the potential to extend this extent of influence. By doing so, China would be able to strengthen its “sharp power” by providing digital infrastructure in exchange for political and economic influence.
The fact remains, however, that there are major technical and logistical obstacles. In addition, China’s rocket-launch capabilities are now behind those of competitors such as SpaceX, and the facility in Qianfan is only capable of producing 300 satellites on an annual basis alone. In spite of the fact that China’s satellite ambitions may still be in their infancy, the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) dedication to bridging the technology gap suggests that the United States of America and its allies will need to keep a careful check on China’s expanding capabilities in space-based technologies.
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