On December 29 local time, a Chinese representative stated at an Arria-formula meeting of the UN Security Council on low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite issues that the unchecked expansion of commercial satellite constellations by certain countries, coupled with inadequate regulation, poses significant safety challenges.
Starlink satellites have twice approached China's space station, forcing it to execute emergency collision-avoidance maneuvers.
Taking Starlink as an example, the representative noted that it now operates over 10,000 satellites in orbit and has twice come dangerously close to China’s space station, triggering emergency evasive actions. Recently, one of its satellites broke apart, generating more than 100 pieces of debris, severely threatening spacecraft from developing countries that lack orbital maneuvering capabilities.
Furthermore, some LEO satellite constellations disregard the laws and regulations of other nations, unilaterally activating signal services over foreign territories and borders, thereby becoming tools for interfering in other countries’ internal affairs. In regions including the Sahel in Africa, South Asia, and Southeast Asia, Starlink has been extensively used by terrorist groups, separatist forces, and transnational telecom fraud syndicates, creating serious regulatory and law enforcement challenges.
The Chinese representative called upon relevant countries to faithfully fulfill their obligations under the Outer Space Treaty and strengthen oversight of their domestic commercial space activities.
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