China is accusing the United States of threatening global security over a reported development of spy satellites. The criticism from Beijing comes days after Reuters reported that Elon Musk’s company, SpaceX, is building surveillance satellites for the U.S. National Reconnaissance Office (NRO). According to Reuters, the classified contract is worth $1.8 billion.
The People’s Liberation Army (PLA) criticized the partnership, stating it shows “shamelessness” on the part of the U.S. China’s military is accusing the United States of a “double standard.”
“We urge U.S. companies to not help a villain do evil,” Junzhengping, an account reportedly run by the PLA, posted on the social media platform Weibo on Sunday, March 17.
Earlier this month, the U.S. issued a warning about the potential threat posed by Chinese tech companies to national security, cautioning that they could be weaponized by the Chinese government to spy.
The National Reconnaissance Office confirmed the partnership with SpaceX but would not elaborate on the specifics of the project. However, Reuters reported that the satellites being built by SpaceX will be flying in low orbit and used to help U.S. ground forces by monitoring enemy targets.
The operation between the NRO and SpaceX is known as Starshield, not to be confused with Starlink, Musk’s internet company.
SpaceX has more than 5,400 satellites in orbit. The satellites provide internet for consumers, companies and governments. Starlink has also been lending a hand to Ukraine in its ongoing war with Russia.
China has raised suspicions over the use of satellites in Ukraine, and Chinese researchers believe the U.S. could eventually use the satellites for “possible hostilities in Asia.”
Not to be outdone, China is also reportedly working on its own satellite networks to launch into space. The country is also looking into developing weapons to shoot down satellites.
According to Rep. Mike Turner, R-Ohio, Russia may also have its eyes on the skies. The Kremlin reportedly wants to create a space-based nuclear weapon to target satellites.
Satellites play a pivotal role in U.S. national security from communications to tracking missiles and monitoring activity on the ground.
Some Pentagon leaders reportedly want to move away from large satellites in favor of smaller satellite clusters capable of staying online if other systems fail. Reuters reported that military and spy satellite launches by the U.S. are expected to ramp up in the coming years.
Meanwhile, the Pentagon, NRO, and SpaceX have not responded to China’s criticism at the time of this report.