‘Switch it off’: Why China calls Starlink a security threat and is now enforcing it at sea

Chinese authorities have penalised a foreign vessel for illegally using Starlink within Chinese waters, a sign of tighter enforcement against satellite internet terminals entering China’s territorial jurisdiction, according to a report by South China Morning Post. Starlink, the satellite-based internet service offered by Elon Musk’s SpaceX, is banned in China and is viewed by Chinese authorities as a national security threat, the report said. SpaceX has not been granted a licence to operate in the country, and vessels equipped with Starlink terminals are required to stop using them when they enter Chinese territory, it added. The regulatory red lines China…