China and Russia Discussed a Joint Plan to Attack Starlink

Journalists have obtained documents indicating that China and Russia considered a joint plan to counter the Starlink satellite network. The proposed measures included diplomatic pressure, electronic warfare, cyber operations, and even the physical destruction of satellites.

The plans came to light through a joint investigation by The Insider, Der Spiegel, and Le Monde. Journalists obtained four presentations delivered in November 2023 at the Third China-Russia Forum on Military-Technical Cooperation in Guangzhou, China.

The presentations, prepared by researchers from the state-owned China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC), describe Starlink as a system that allegedly creates a “space blockade” by occupying low Earth orbit and the radio frequency spectrum so densely that it limits the development of competing satellite networks. According to the investigation, this framing could allow potential actions against Starlink to be portrayed as self-defense rather than aggression.

The documents outline a three-stage escalation strategy:

1. The first stage focuses on coordinated diplomatic and legal pressure, arguing that Starlink’s growing satellite constellation increases the risk of collisions in low Earth orbit.

2. The second stage proposes limiting the network’s further expansion. To achieve this, the authors recommend coordinating orbital slot and frequency filings while developing a joint electronic warfare system capable of selectively jamming Starlink services in specific regions.

3. The most aggressive third stage calls for physically disabling Starlink satellites. The documents describe a “cyber warfare” scenario involving credential theft, infecting user terminals with malware capable of spreading across the network, and deploying an unspecified “low-cost” weapon to destroy satellites in orbit.

According to The Insider, some of these concepts have already appeared in publicly available Chinese military publications. These include discussions of laser weapons, anti-satellite missiles, and a powerful ground-based microwave system reportedly developed by the Northwest Institute of Nuclear Technology to target satellites in low Earth orbit.

Starlink remains a critical communications system for Ukraine. After Russia launched its full-scale invasion in 2022, SpaceX activated the service in the country, where it has since been widely used for both military and civilian communications, including the operation of unmanned systems.

Today, the Starlink constellation consists of more than 10,000 active satellites, making it the world’s largest satellite network. SpaceX is also considering a significant expansion of the constellation, fueling ongoing debate over congestion in low Earth orbit and the future of space infrastructure.

The leaked documents indicate that China and Russia considered a comprehensive strategy to counter Starlink by combining political, cyber, electronic warfare, and kinetic measures. Although the materials were prepared by military researchers, they underscore the growing strategic importance of satellite networks in modern conflicts.