Brandon J. Weichert
China is committed to competing with the United States for dominance in space—notably in the strategic orbits around the Earth. Not only are these orbits required for successful satellite operations (which can be used to enhance a nation’s power projection on the Earth below), but they are key for controlling the entire Earth-Moon strategic system.
In this case, China operates the Tongxin Jishu Shiyan (TJS) constellation of satellites. This system comprises China’s mystery fleet in geostationary orbit (GEO), which is the highest orbit around the Earth.
What Is the TJS Satellite Constellation?
This network of Chinese satellites in GEO is giving the Americans real heartburn as they cannot confirm what, precisely, the Chinese are utilizing these satellites for.
Officially, Beijing describes their JTS constellation as merely being “communications satellites.” But, China has long ago mastered the art of “Military-Civil Fusion” (MCF). What can be used in civilian times as a communications satellite could easily be fashioned into a weapon of war during a period of conflict on Earth. What’s more, China has led the world in developing co-orbital satellites—satellite-killing satellites—under the guise of normal civilian satellite development.
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