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Amid rising tensions in the Indo-Pacific region, it has been reported that China has deployed hundreds of surveillance satellites near Australia. The main purpose of these satellites is to collect intelligence data on joint military drills involving the US, India, and other regional partners.

Australia’s ABC News revealed that China is conducting a full-scale surveillance operation in the region. The surveillance has targeted the recently completed “Exercise Talisman Sabre” and the ongoing “Exercise Malabar” naval drills off the coast of Sydney.

EOS Space Systems, a Canberra-based defence company, detected three Chinese satellites maneuvering near the Talisman Sabre war games in Northern Australia in July. These satellites were identified as Beijing’s Shiyan 12-01 satellite, the Shijian-17, and the Shijian-23.

Since the beginning of Exercise Malabar in August, hundreds of smaller low-orbit satellites have been detected across the region. These satellites have undertaken thousands of flights at much lower altitudes over the continent.

Exercise Malabar is a joint military drill conducted by Australia, the United States, India, and Japan. Data on China’s satellite surveillance operation was collected using telescopes stationed outside Canberra and in Learmonth, Western Australia.

The Australian defence company believes that China is using its dominance in space to monitor its adversaries. These low-orbit satellites provide persistent observation of offshore and mainland activities. Dr. James Bennett from EOS Space Systems emphasized the significant risk posed by these satellites, with over 300 satellites surveying ground-based activities and over 3,000 overflights recorded since the start of the Malabar exercise.

The Australian Defence Department has not provided details on how it plans to mitigate this risk. The deployment of these surveillance satellites raises concerns about China’s intentions and actions in the Indo-Pacific region.

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