Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Israeli media platform: The Degel HaTorah party, which has four members in the Knesset, announces its withdrawal from Netanyahu's cabinet.
Local Syrian sources: The raids targeted the road between the village of Al-Mazra'a and the city of Sweida, where forces and factions affiliated with the Syrian Ministry of Defense are advancing.
Local Syrian sources: New raids carried out by Israeli warplanes targeted vehicles and gatherings of military factions affiliated with the new Syrian Ministry of Defense.
Local Syrian sources: Israeli raids target, for the third time, gatherings of Syrian Defense Forces military factions in the southern countryside of Sweida.
The Ministry of Health in Gaza: Gaza Strip hospitals received 120 martyrs and 557 wounded in the past 24 hours.
The Israeli Walla! website: We are running out of stockpiles, our forces are exhausted, and the lives of the captives are in danger. It is time for a ceasefire deal in Gaza.
Several wounded in an Israeli bombardment of a tent in al-Mawasi, south of Khan Younis in the Gaza Strip.
Israeli media: Three wounded, three killed in an ongoing operation in the Gaza Strip.
Al Mayadeen's correspondent in southern Lebanon: Israeli artillery shelling targets the outskirts of the town of Shebaa
Al-Qassam Brigades: The targeting took place at the intersection of 'Street 5' with the western line north of Khan Younis

China will launch 12,992 satellites into orbit to rival SpaceX

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Agencies
  • 7 Apr 2023 09:52
3 Min Read

Following the weaponization of space by the US through SpaceX in Ukraine, China has made the decision to rival Elon Musk's company.

  • x
  • China
    Visitors stand near a giant screen displaying images of the Tianhe space station at an exhibition featuring the development of China's space exploration on the country's Space Day at China Science and Technology Museum in Beijing, China April 24, 2021. (Reuters)

Amid calls from the Chinese military community to accelerate the creation of a national network, China announced that it will launch 12,992 satellites into orbit. US media reported that these new satellites will rival Elon Musk's Starlink, which was launched through SpaceX and proved highly capable militarily in the Ukrainian conflict.

The Washington Post cited a Beijing academic familiar with the Chinese project as saying, "The Starlink constellation has finally shown its military colors in the Russia-Ukraine conflict."

Despite SpaceX having said, in February, that the technology was not supposed to be weaponized, the Ukrainian military admitted that it was using the previously dubbed civilian satellite program to live-stream drone feeds, improving artillery accuracy.

Most recently, in December of last year, China's fears were further triggered after SpaceX revealed the anticipated launch of a new project called Starshield, which Chinese researchers discovered would be as good as having installed a surveillance camera network around the globe.

According to the Washington Post, China has accelerated the Guowang project, the State Network, and explored defensive measures against "Starlink-type foreign satellites."

China condemns US' weaponization of space

Related News

Trump-Musk feud sends Tesla stock plunging

Gulf investments quietly boosted Elon Musk and family fortunes

After the Pentagon issued a new policy that makes space a "priority domain of national military power," China accused Washington of seeking to militarize outer space. 

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman, Mao Ning, spoke to reporters at a Wednesday briefing regarding Washington's directive in a newly-released document that it may start military operations in space.

“For a long time, the US has openly defined space as a war-fighting domain. It has built the US Space Force and Space Command, developed and deployed space-based offensive weapons, conducted offensive and defensive military exercises and technology tests, and intensified military cooperation with its allies,” Mao said, stressing that “this has heightened the risks of military miscalculation and conflict.”

The spokesperson, furthermore, accused Washington of blocking a "space arms control initiative" which was led by Russia and China, further increasing the possibilities of "turning outer space into a weapon and battlefield."

According to the new US directive, the Pentagon should “protect and defend the use of space for US national security purposes,” as well as “deliver advanced space capabilities to deter conflict and, if deterrence fails, to counter and defeat aggression.”

Regarding the document, Mao stressed that its implications pose "a grave challenge to the peace and security of outer space,” and “fully exposes the US ambition of increasing military build-up and war preparedness… in outer space.”

“The US should respect the shared concerns of the international community, immediately stop the negative moves that could undermine security of outer space, step up to its due responsibilities and stop hindering negotiations for a legal instrument on arms control in outer space,” she added.

Read more: China to become 'militarily superior' to US by 2049: Top US general

  • SpaceX
  • Starlink satellite
  • US
  • China
  • Starshield
  • Ukraine

Most Read

Hezbollah SG reveals war details on Al Mayadeen for the first time

Hezbollah SG reveals war details on Al Mayadeen for the first time

  • Politics
  • 8 Jul 2025
Major ambush in Gaza kills 6 Israeli troops, injures dozens

Major ambush in Gaza kills 5 Israeli troops, injures 14

  • Politics
  • 8 Jul 2025
Israeli soldiers are seen in Beit Hanoun ahead of an operation by the al-Qassam Brigades, undated (Al-Qassam Brigades Military Media)

'Israel' on blast as media exposes report discrepancies in Gaza ambush

  • Palestine
  • 8 Jul 2025
Yemen Navy sinks ETERNITY C ship, shares footage of operation

Yemen Navy sinks ETERNITY C ship, shares footage of operation

  • Politics
  • 9 Jul 2025

Coverage

All
The Ummah's Martyrs

Read Next

All
The Freedom Flotilla ship Handala as it departs for Gaza, where it aims to break the maritime blockade at a port in Syracuse, Sicily in southern Italy on July 13, 2025. (AFP)
Palestine

Freedom Flotilla's Handala departs Sicily in bid to break Gaza siege

The container ship CMA CGM Laperouse, left, docks at the Georgia Ports Authority's Port of Savannah, Sept. 29, 2021, in Savannah, Ga (AP)
Politics

US shipbuilding woes deepen as tariffs, outdated policies backfire

Gaza war raises ethical questions for ex-Obama, Biden officials
Politics

Mercenary firm tied to Gaza war crimes hires Obama-Biden PR operatives

'Israel' targets children in Gaza collecting water
Palestine

'Israel' strikes Gaza kids fetching water, blames it on 'malfunction'

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS