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China has reportedly deployed a swarm of reconnaissance satellites to monitor two major military exercises involving the US and Australia. The Chinese satellites, numbering in the hundreds, passed over Australia to collect intelligence from the recently concluded Exercise Talisman Sabre. Among the satellites observed was Beijing’s Shiyan 12-01, which maneuvered into position below the equator to monitor the war games between the US and Australia. Additionally, the Shijian-17 and Shijian-23 satellites were tracked drifting easterly to observe multiple areas where the military exercise took place.

In addition to Exercise Talisman Sabre, the Chinese satellites are also monitoring the ongoing Exercise Malabar naval drills. Over 300 satellites are reportedly surveying the activities and have accumulated over 3,000 flight hours since the exercise began on August 10. This large number of low-orbit Chinese satellites above Australia enables the country to gain knowledge of equipment capabilities and ground military activities.

China’s increase in satellite spying highlights its growing presence in space. The country has tested and operationalized space weapons, leading a US General to warn that China remains the most challenging threat in space. Furthermore, China recently launched its first geosynchronous orbit synthetic aperture radar satellite, further demonstrating its advancement in space technology. US Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall has also expressed concerns about China’s potential to deploy weapons in space, which could be used to strike adversaries in the event of a conflict.

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