China has warned at a UN Security Council meeting that Elon Musk’s Starlink and other satellite networks pose serious safety risks and security challenges due to overcrowding, collision dangers, and growing military use. Beijing said these safety risks highlight rising tensions linked to the rapid commercialization of outer space and the lack of strong global controls.
China raises safety risks over crowded space and near collisions
Speaking at a United Nations event, China’s representative warned that the rapid expansion of commercial satellite constellations, particularly in low Earth orbit, has created serious safety and security concerns. Although the diplomat was not named in China’s official UN statement, the message clearly reflected growing alarm about orbital congestion and overall space safety.
Low Earth orbit is popular because it allows faster internet and better communication, but it is also a limited and shared zone. China argued that launching thousands of satellites into this narrow space sharply increases the chance of dangerous collisions. Starlink, owned by SpaceX and founded by Elon Musk, currently operates around 10,000 satellites and plans to expand to more than 42,000, further adding to congestion in orbit.
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According to China, massive satellite constellations crowd shared orbital paths and radio frequencies that all spacecraft depend on. This congestion, the diplomat said, significantly raises collision risks. China pointed to two incidents in 2021 when Starlink satellites came dangerously close to China’s space station, forcing astronauts to take evasive action to avoid potential crashes.
China also cited a December incident in which a Starlink satellite disintegrated in orbit, producing more than 100 pieces of space debris. The representative warned that debris travels at extreme speeds and creates serious safety risks for other spacecraft. These dangers are especially severe for developing countries that lack advanced tracking systems, making them more exposed to sudden space safety risks.
Disputes over coordination and responsibility in outer space
China’s comments followed a public exchange between Starlink and Chinese space officials over a reported near miss in orbit. Michael Nicolls, Starlink’s vice-president of engineering, said one of the company’s satellites narrowly avoided a newly launched Chinese satellite, raising fresh concerns about collision safety risks.
Nicolls claimed that the Chinese side did not coordinate or deconflict with other satellites already operating in space. Deconfliction, which involves sharing data and adjusting satellite paths, is meant to reduce collision-related safety risks in crowded orbits.
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In response, CAS Space, the Chinese commercial launch company behind the Kinetica-1 rocket, said that if the incident occurred, it happened about 48 hours after payload separation, when the launch mission had already concluded. The company said the episode highlighted the need for stronger cooperation to reduce long-term safety risks as more satellites enter orbit.
China also raised legal concerns at the UN, citing the 1967 Outer Space Treaty. The diplomat said countries are responsible for national space activities, including those by private companies, and warned that weak oversight increases safety risks and accountability gaps in outer space.
Military use, cross-border signals, and misuse by criminal groups
China warned that the expanding military and political use of commercial satellites like Starlink is adding new safety risks in outer space. At the UN, Beijing said satellites are increasingly used for reconnaissance and battlefield communications, blurring the line between civilian and military operations and increasing strategic safety risks.
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China said this lack of separation creates legal uncertainty and raises the risk of conflict beyond Earth. It also claimed that some satellite internet services operate across borders without approval, interfering in domestic affairs and creating additional safety risks.
Beijing further alleged that in regions such as South Asia, Southeast Asia, and parts of Africa, Starlink services have been misused by terrorists, separatist groups, and online fraud networks. Elon Musk has denied misuse in India, while SpaceX said it disabled thousands of Starlink kits linked to scam centers in Myanmar. China urged stronger regulation and UN-led action to address growing satellite-related safety risks in space.
