China has warned that the rapid expansion of internet satellite constellations like SpaceX's Starlink poses "significant safety and security challenges." At a Russia-led open session of the UN Security Council, Beijing's representative pointed to incidents including a near-collision between Starlink satellites and China's space station in 2021, and a satellite malfunction in December, as examples of the risks. The representative also alleged that some "low-Earth orbit satellite constellations" are being used for military surveillance in disregard of other nations' airspace and laws, and that terrorist groups and separatist organizations are also exploiting them. Starlink has previously stated that one of its satellites nearly collided with a new Chinese satellite, accusing China of a lack of coordination. The latest remarks from Beijing come amid those ongoing tensions. As commercial space ventures continue to expand and satellites multiply without clear regulatory frameworks, Beijing warns this poses growing security risks. Ref: South China Morning Post