'Switch it off': China Enforces Starlink Ban, Citing Security Threat

• Chinese authorities penalized a foreign vessel for illegally using Starlink within Chinese waters, signaling tighter enforcement.
• China views Elon Musk’s SpaceX Starlink as a national security threat, banning its operation due to lack of license and overseas routing of communications.
• Chinese laws prohibit foreign companies from operating basic telecom services and require satellite communications to be routed through domestic gateways.
• Researchers believe Starlink poses high risks to China's strategic interests, especially as the US integrates it into military space assets.
• This enforcement aligns with China's broader push to reduce dependence on SpaceX-led satellite connectivity and develop its own reusable rocket technology.

Why It Matters: China intensifies its Starlink ban, citing national security and aiming to reduce foreign tech dependence.