China accuses Elon Musk’s Starlink of threatening space safety

China has issued a fresh warning to the United Nations (UN), raising objections over the rapid expansion of SpaceX’s Starlink satellite network and warning that massive commercial constellations are creating serious safety and security risks in low-Earth orbit.

Speaking at an informal UN Security Council meeting, a Chinese diplomat noted that the unchecked growth of commercial satellites, largely driven by companies based in a single country, is placing a growing strain on orbital resources and increasing the risk of dangerous incidents in space.

China has specifically pointed to incidents in 2021 involving Starlink satellites and the Tiangong space station, which Beijing said required emergency manoeuvres to avoid potential collisions. 

According to the diplomat, Starlink satellites made what were described as “dangerous close approaches” to the Chinese space station, posing what China called serious threats to the safety of astronauts onboard.

The diplomat warned that for spacecraft operated by developing nations with limited orbit-control capabilities or slower response times, such situations represent a major safety concern.

Notably, low-Earth orbit has become increasingly crowded since 2018, as satellite megaconstellations race to deliver global internet services. 

Of the nearly 13,000 active satellites currently orbiting Earth, more than two-thirds belong to Starlink, which is operated by SpaceX, led by Elon Musk.