Image: Starlink
China has once again drawn a hard line against Starlink, reinforcing its view that SpaceX’s satellite internet service poses a national security risk and has no place operating within Chinese territory. The latest example came this month, after Chinese authorities penalized a foreign vessel for illegally using Starlink while docked in Chinese waters.
According to a report from the South China Morning Post, maritime law enforcement officials discovered a “micro rectangular antenna” installed on the ship’s top deck during a routine inspection at Ningbo port in Zhejiang province. The Ningbo Maritime Safety Administration flagged the equipment as being “significantly different from standard maritime safety communication equipment,” prompting further scrutiny. Officials determined the device was a foreign-made satellite communications terminal, later identified as a Starlink antenna, and ordered the vessel to immediately cease using the service.
Image: Starlink
This marks the first publicly reported case of China issuing a penalty specifically for the use of Starlink within its territorial waters, underscoring Beijing’s strict control over communications infrastructure. Starlink is completely banned in China and does not hold a license to provide satellite internet services in the country. Under Chinese law, foreign companies are prohibited from offering basic telecommunications services, which include satellite-based connectivity, and all satellite communications must route through government-approved domestic gateways to allow state oversight.
Starlink’s architecture directly conflicts with that framework. The service relies on overseas gateways and a massive low Earth orbit satellite constellation, enabling data transmission outside China’s regulatory reach. That lack of control has long made the service a red flag for Chinese authorities, who have openly labeled Starlink a national security threat and even explored deploying their own satellite constellations to counter it.
Beyond regulatory concerns, Chinese researchers and defense analysts have warned about Starlink’s potential dual-use capabilities. Studies have suggested the network could enhance U.S. military communications, surveillance, and resilience during conflicts, further fueling Beijing’s opposition.
The crackdown comes despite Starlink’s explosive global growth in 2025. The service now operates in more than 155 countries and territories, has doubled its global user base this year, and continues to see web traffic surge across its network. Starlink is also widely used at sea, powering connectivity for commercial, private, and even military vessels in other parts of the world. China, however, remains firmly off that list.
For now, the message from Beijing is clear: any unlicensed use of Starlink within Chinese jurisdiction will be treated as a violation, reinforcing the country’s broader strategy to safeguard data sovereignty and limit foreign technological influence.
