China reminds us why the Space Force was created
Tom Rogan
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China has again underlined the strategic rationale for the existence of the U.S. Space Force.
As reported by the South China Morning Post, the People’s Liberation Army intends to operate a network of just under 13,000 satellites in Low Earth Orbit. Announced in a recent paper by the project’s brainchild, this satellite network is intended to allow China to challenge Elon Musk’s SpaceX network of around 12,000 Starlink satellites.
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The strategy paper adds that “new weapons, including lasers and high-power microwaves, would be developed and used to destroy Starlink satellites that pass over China or other sensitive regions.” It promises China’s network will “gain opportunities and advantages at other orbital altitudes, and even suppress Starlink…”
This is just another example of Xi Jinping’s ambition for global strategic dominance. Considering the aggressive doctrine that supports Chinese satellite and anti-satellite activities, this paper is a reminder of the stakes involved in the struggle for the future of space.
It is almost certain, for example, that the PLA will use its satellite network in attempts to obstruct the operation of Starlink and other Western satellite networks. Another key Chinese objective will be to offer up its system as a cheap competitor to Starlink. As with China’s global 5G network strategy, the interest here will center on relocating global communications through Chinese infrastructure.
Those communications will then be vulnerable to being pilfered by Beijing for intelligence purposes.
The exigent risk of such a large PLA-controlled satellite network is that it could be employed in war or a period of high tension to blind U.S. military command and control, and/or economic or civilian communications. For one tactical example, this network poses a major prospective threat in relation to supporting Chinese ballistic missiles forces in targeting U.S. Navy’s aircraft carriers and overcoming their defensive actions.
Unfortunately, that’s not the only threat.
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The PLA’s existing satellite network already centers on monitoring what other satellites are doing, how they are doing it, and what data is passing through their systems. And in providing means for satellite-killing actions as desired. The evolving satellite network will further complement the PLA’s activities in this regard.
Beijing’s ultimate strategic intent is to dominate space in service of its security and political interests. The Chinese Communist Party preaches the rhetoric of “win-win cooperation” but practices unashamed unilateralism wherever it can do so. Even in Space.