SpaceX and Starlink satellite internet service of Elon Musk, President-elect Donald Trump's close ally, are currently under intense scrutiny in East and South Asia due to major espionage claims and abetment with criminal and insurgent groups.

Research by the People's Liberation Army (PLA) indicates that SpaceX and Starlink are actively engaged in Ukraine, Lebanon, and Gaza to identify targets and track down enemy activities. According to independent media sources, occupation forces may have utilized this technology to strike and assassinate high-ranking Hezbollah and Hamas leaders last year, including Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, Yahya Sinwar, Fouad Shukur, Ibrahim Aqil, and many more.

Musk’s covert spy scheme and Beijing’s reaction

In March of last year, a Reuters report, referencing multiple sources with knowledge of the secret deal, disclosed that SpaceX was developing a network of hundreds of reconnaissance satellites under a classified contract with a US intelligence agency. This development underscores the increasingly close relationship between billionaire entrepreneur Musk's aerospace enterprise and national security organizations.

According to the report, the network is being developed by SpaceX's Starshield division under a $1.8 billion contract established in 2021 with the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO), an intelligence agency responsible for the management of reconnaissance satellites. The plans also outline the extent of SpaceX's involvement in US military and intelligence projects, the report revealed. They also show that the Pentagon is making a bigger investment in large low-Earth orbit satellite systems that will help ground forces. It was further noted that, if successful, the initiative would substantially enhance the capacity of the US government and military to swiftly identify potential targets in virtually any location worldwide.

Days after Reuters broke the news, the Chinese military and state-controlled media articulated allegations against the US, contending that it constituted a menace to global security.

A social media account managed by the People's Liberation Army (PLA) contended that the SpaceX initiative exposed the "shamelessness and double standards" of the US, especially considering Washington's claims that Chinese technology companies represent a danger to US security.

Wang Yanan, chief editor of Aerospace Knowledge, a journal aligned with the Chinese ruling Communist Party, stated in an interview that the SpaceX satellite initiative poses "a challenge to global security and stability." The US excessive intelligence gathering, Wang argued, to spy on the regions of their interest will inevitably make the global situation worse.

Findings from the PLA’s own research 

Over the last two years, researchers from the PLA have conducted an in-depth analysis of the deployment of Starlink in the conflict zones in Ukraine and Gaza, consistently highlighting the potential risks it presents to China. The researchers went deep down to examine how the high-speed satellite internet has transformed communication on the battlefield and made coordination and information-sharing among Ukrainian and Israeli forces possible. The Chinese military officials were concerned about this development, as such technology can provide strategic benefits to the enemies in contemporary conflict scenarios.

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This finding exacerbated the PLA's worries about what would happen if similar satellite systems were put in place in the Asia-Pacific region, where tensions are already high because of territorial disputes and military posturing. According to the researchers, relying on systems like Starlink could significantly change the balance of power by giving enemies a key tool to improve their operational effectiveness.

According to the researchers, relying on systems like Starlink could significantly change the balance of power by giving enemies a key tool to improve their operational effectiveness.

The PLA found that in bigger cyber warfare, the use of this technology could allow rivals to hack into satellite networks and use electronic warfare tactics. The PLA's investigations show that it is important to make these weaknesses less of a problem, which means that China needs to progress with its satellite communication technology. The PLA's investigations show that it is important to make these weaknesses less of a problem, which means that China needs to progress with its satellite communication technology.

The wars in Ukraine and Gaza give food for thought to Chinese policymakers to make a critical reassessment of China's strategic orientation and its commitment to advancing military technologies in the future. The attraction of advanced satellite systems necessitates careful consideration of their associated risks. This helps China become more ready for a world that is becoming more complex, the research concluded.

India's concerns about the use of Starlink

India, which boasts an estimated 751.5 million internet users and a penetration rate of approximately 52.4% of its total population, has not permitted Starlink to operate within India.

The Union government has deferred the issuance of regulatory approvals, citing concerns related to security. Notwithstanding this, the involvement of its devices in illicit activities has elicited considerable concern.

In response to two major events—a large drug bust in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands and a raid linked to insurgency activities in Manipur—the government launched a full investigation, which revealed the use of Starlink devices.

Authorities in the Andaman Islands confiscated 6,000 kilograms of methamphetamine, valued at Indian rupee 36 billion ($415.8 million), along with a Starlink Mini, a portable satellite internet device. Smugglers allegedly used the device to navigate the open seas and avoid traditional communication systems.

The discovery has compelled Indian authorities to inquire with Starlink regarding its provenance and historical utilization. The presence of the device in proximity to the Myanmar border prompts inquiries regarding the existence of cross-border smuggling networks. Musk has refuted the allegations; however, local authorities have verified that the device operated effectively in the region due to its proximity to Myanmar's active operational zones.

Starlink satellite internet service provides high-speed internet service worldwide by launching more than 7,000 LEO satellites. Its extensive coverage makes it particularly suitable for remote or underserved regions, providing continuous connectivity during disaster relief efforts and military operations.

Nonetheless, its capacity to circumvent governmental regulations renders it a potential security risk. In India, where Starlink operates illegally without authorization, it raises concerns regarding its potential risks, shadowing its advantages. Indian authorities contend that the devices present considerable risks, and Starlink's reluctance to disclose information regarding purchasers exacerbates the situation.

The introduction of Starlink presents a significant challenge to Indian telecommunications leaders, such as Reliance Jio and Bharti Airtel, who are apprehensive that Starlink's sophisticated technology and extensive global presence may diminish their market share. In India, the illegal use of Starlink devices raises serious security concerns. This is due to the difficulty in policing and monitoring satellite internet systems, which leaves them vulnerable to misuse by terrorists, drug traffickers, and other malicious actors.

The same is the case with Pakistan, where the authorities seem reluctant to grant a license to Starlink to operate its satellite broadband service due to security and monitoring concerns. Starlink satellite broadband is currently striving to acquire landing rights for its LEO satellite internet in Pakistan.

Although the government is tight-lipped about the fate of the Starlink application, there are clear indications that Pakistan may authorize a Chinese tech company, Shanghai Spacecom Satellite Technology (SSST), to commence its operation.