'Switch it off': Why China calls Starlink a security threat and is now enforcing it at sea

China penalised a foreign vessel for using Starlink in its waters, underscoring Beijing’s tighter enforcement and security concerns.

• China fined a foreign vessel for illegal Starlink use in its waters.
• China bans Starlink over security concerns and lack of local licensing.
• China is boosting its own satellite and rocket tech to reduce reliance on SpaceX

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Chinese authorities have penalised a foreign vessel for illegally using Starlink within Chinese waters, a sign of tighter enforcement against satellite internet terminals entering China’s territorial jurisdiction, according to a report by South China Morning Post.

Starlink, the satellite-based internet service offered by Elon Musk’s SpaceX, is banned in China and is viewed by Chinese authorities as a national security threat, the report said. SpaceX has not been granted a licence to operate in the country, and vessels equipped with Starlink terminals are required to stop using them when they enter Chinese territory, it added.

The regulatory red lines China draws

China’s restrictions are rooted in laws and regulations that prohibit foreign companies from operating basic telecom services in the country, including satellite-based internet service.

In addition, satellite communications within China must be routed through a domestic gateway, and any company or individual using radio devices or frequencies must obtain official approvals, as outlined in the report.

The security argument behind the ban

Chinese researchers cited in an AP report believe Starlink “poses a high risk to the Chinese government and its strategic interests” because its communications are routed through overseas gateways rather than domestic infrastructure.

A 2023 paper cited by a news agency, published by China’s National University of Defence Technology, argued that as the United States integrates Starlink technology into military space assets, other countries increasingly perceive Starlink as a threat across nuclear, space and cyber domains.

The bigger contest: breaking Starlink’s dominance

The enforcement action also lands amid China’s broader push to reduce dependence on SpaceX-led satellite connectivity. Starlink says it operates in more than 140 countries. In June this year, the company obtained a licence to operate in India, overcoming national security concerns there.

China’s drive to compete extends to launch capability. SpaceX relies heavily on its reusable Falcon 9 rocket for frequent satellite launches. China’s private rocket firm LandSpace recently carried out a full reusable rocket test with its Zhuque-3 model, and while the launch failed, Chinese state-owned and private players are stepping up efforts to develop reusable rockets, a Reuters report said.