January4, 2007:
As part of their modernization campaign, the Chinese military is being
equipped with satellite communication (SatCom) systems. The Chinese have noted
the growing, and successful, use of satellite based communications by the
American military, especially in the last decade. China is also organizing a
mobile satellite communications unit for emergencies. Most of the equipment for
all this is Chinese made, and working off Chinese communications satellites.
Ten years ago, the U.S. eased export restrictions on satellite communications
technology, and subsequent sales to have allowed China to develop this military
grade satellite communications system.