China’s Military Races for Space Dominance – Full-Scale Push Begins

 China's Militarization of Space: Key Highlights

1. Strategic priority

China considers space as vital a military domain as land, sea, air, and cyberspace. Under President Xi Jinping, Beijing aims to surpass the US as the leading space power.

2. Massive growth in space assets

China now has over 1,060 satellites in orbit, a 620 percent increase since 2015. More than 510 of these are ISR (intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance) satellites supporting the PLA. In 2023 alone, 68 launches placed 260 payloads in orbit.

3. Military applications

China’s ISR satellites help track US aircraft carriers, air wings, and other assets, enhancing its ability to execute precision missile strikes.

4. Aerospace Force formation

In April 2024, China replaced its Strategic Support Force with the PLA Aerospace Force, which directly reports to the Central Military Commission. It oversees all military space activities and has seven primary bases for launch, control, tracking, R\&D, and early warning.

5. Space weaponization

China has developed anti-satellite (ASAT) capabilities including missiles, co-orbital satellites, directed-energy weapons, and jammers. Some satellites have performed unusual maneuvers, indicating potential for satellite interference or grappling.

6. Starlink rivalry

China is building its own large low Earth orbit (LEO) constellations with over 14,000 satellites planned by 2030. These include the G60 constellation and China SatNet. Chinese officials fear that US networks like Starlink could assist military operations.

7. Emerging technologies

China is advancing technologies such as reusable spaceplanes, rapid-response launch systems, high-powered laser systems, and satellite jammers. It has tested vertical take-off reusable rockets and kept experimental spaceplanes in orbit for months.

8. PLA's strategy in conflict

In a conflict like one over Taiwan, the Aerospace Force would deploy ISR and navigation satellites for targeting, launch ASAT attacks to disable enemy space assets, and deny adversaries access to space. This reflects the belief that modern warfare depends heavily on space dominance.

9. US response

The US Space Force has identified China as the primary space competitor. It warns that China's rapid progress poses a threat to satellite security, especially in intelligence and military communications.