China has published dozens of military-linked studies detailing methods to disrupt Starlink. Starlink’s use in Ukraine heightened fears about its strategic power. Beijing is building its own competing satellite constellations to match Musk’s reach. LOS ANGELES - As Elon Musk’s Starlink satellite network continues to expand around the globe, China is sounding the alarm — and studying how to take it down. Dozens of papers published by Chinese military-linked researchers lay out strategies to disrupt, disable, or counter Musk’s system, which they view as a direct threat to national security. The constellation’s role in Ukraine’s battlefield communications has only intensified Beijing’s concerns, leading to detailed research on how Starlink might be jammed, sabotaged, or outmaneuvered. From laser-armed submarines to orbiting shadow satellites, the proposed countermeasures read like science fiction — but they reflect real geopolitical anxieties about the growing influence of a satellite network controlled by a private U.S. citizen with unpredictable political ties. Why is China targeting Starlink? The backstory: Since launching in 2019, Starlink has become the backbone of low-orbit internet communications. Operated by SpaceX, the network now accounts for nearly two-thirds of all active satellites, according to Harvard-Smithsonian astronomer Jonathan McDowell. Beijing sees that dominance as a strategic risk. Though Starlink doesn’t operate in China, its satellites still fly overhead — providing potential surveillance or connectivity capabilities that could be used against China in a military confrontation. In a 2023 paper, professors from China’s National University of Defense Technology wrote that "as the United States integrates Starlink technology into military space assets to gain a strategic advantage over its adversaries, other countries increasingly perceive Starlink as a security threat in nuclear, space, and cyber domains." How the Ukraine war changed perceptions Big picture view: Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine marked a turning point in how Starlink is perceived internationally. Ukraine used the network to coordinate drone strikes, maintain battlefield communication, and reconnect infrastructure. But the power to control access remained with Musk, who refused to extend service during a Ukrainian counterattack in Crimea. "Ukraine was a warning shot for the rest of us," Nitin Pai, director of the Takshashila Institution in India, told the Associated Press. He added that many nations had long warned of the risk of relying on Chinese tech firms tied to Beijing — and now see similar vulnerabilities with American private companies. Beachgoers watch as a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket carrying Starlink satellites launches from Cape Canaveral, Florida. The expanding Starlink network has drawn global attention — and concern — for its military and geopolitical impact. (Photo by Paul Hennessy/NurPhoto via Getty Images) China’s response has been both strategic and scientific. Researchers affiliated with the People’s Liberation Army, government cybersecurity teams, and state universities have published at least 64 papers on Starlink since the war began. They’ve explored satellite tracking, signal interference, and possible vulnerabilities in Starlink’s supply chain. One PLA paper proposed launching small satellites equipped with corrosive chemicals to degrade Starlink batteries or solar panels mid-orbit. The other side: Beijing isn’t alone in raising red flags. Some U.S. allies have started to question the wisdom of relying on a foreign billionaire for access to critical communications infrastructure. "We are allies with the United States of America, but we need to have our strategic autonomy," Christophe Grudler, a French member of the European Parliament, told the Associated Press. Grudler helped lead legislation on the EU’s own satellite network, known as IRIS2. "The risk is not having our destiny in our own hands," he said. By the numbers: