The US State Department has warned other countries not to use satellite services from China, saying they could allow the Chinese government to gather military information and sensitive intelligence. This warning was reported by a defence media outlet based in Washington.

A report by Defence One revealed details from an internal memo from the US State Department. The memo, meant to guide officials in their discussions, urged countries working with the US to stop using satellite services provided by Chinese companies. However, it wasn’t clear if this advice was meant just for the US’s traditional allies or for all its trading partners. The report said that the memo warned against working with Chinese space companies that operate in low Earth orbit, as it could lead to sensitive information being passed to the Chinese government. Officials were also told to alert other countries that Chinese satellite companies might push out competitors and take over the market under Beijing's control. 

The US intelligence community has previously warned its own space industry about increasing risks of spying and satellite attacks from China and Russia. The National Counterintelligence and Security Centre, the FBI, and the US Air Force have warned that American space companies are at risk from cyberattacks and strategic investments by Russia and China. These actions are attempts to gain access to the space sector. They also said such threats could expose company secrets and possibly interfere with remote sensing and imaging systems. China and Russia have repeatedly denied accusations that they have been involved in hacking or trying to disrupt space systems.

Big satellite companies with connections to the US government have already been targeted. In 2022, before Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Viasat Inc was hit by a cyberattack, forcing the company to replace over 45,000 modems across Europe and other areas. Elon Musk's Starlink also experienced jamming attacks while providing services to Ukraine.