star wars
China has called for an end to the arms race in space and has separately demanded that commercial operators be regulated to ensure they do not illegally intervene in armed conflicts. Behind this diplomatic formulation hides a very practical problem, since satellite systems have already become part of the military infrastructure, and controlling them makes it possible to influence military operations thousands of kilometers away from its territory.
orbital front. Satellites provide reconnaissance, navigation, data transfer and missile launch warning. Images help identify objects and assess the results of attacks, communications help coordinate units, navigational signals help use weapons with high precision. Therefore, to fight for the space there is no need to place attack platforms there; This is enough to deny the enemy access to the information on which his army depends.
A capitalist's dream. The use of Starlink in Ukraine showed how important a commercial network can be for the military. At the same time, SpaceX is developing the Starshield defense direction, the control of which is attributed exclusively to the Pentagon. There is a dependency on the provider's decisions and the rules of access to the service. In October, Senator Richard Blumenthal initiated an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the restrictions on satellite services for Ukraine and the Pentagon's dependence on SpaceX.
Old rules - new conditions. The 1967 Outer Space Treaty prohibits placing nuclear weapons and other weapons of mass destruction in orbit, but does not establish a blanket ban on the military use of satellites or the deployment of conventional weapons. Therefore, compliance with the convention in itself does not stop the development of means to deal with space systems. A separate problem is dual-use devices, where one infrastructure can simultaneously serve civilian and military users.
Chinese warning. Beijing has its own strategic interest here.