China is stepping up research into ways to disable or disrupt SpaceX’s Starlink internet constellation, which Beijing views as a potential military threat. At least 64 peer-reviewed papers by researchers affiliated with the People’s Liberation Army, state universities and cybersecurity agencies outline strategies ranging from laser-equipped stealth submarines and orbiting ‘shadow’ satellites to targeted jamming and supply-chain attacks, according to recent publications reviewed by the Associated Press. The studies gained urgency after Starlink’s role in maintaining Ukrainian battlefield communications underscored the power a privately owned U.S. network can wield. Analysts say Starlink now accounts for nearly two-thirds of all active satellites, with more than 8,000 craft in orbit and thousands more planned, raising wider concerns about strategic dependence on a single commercial operator. SpaceX is continuing to upgrade the constellation’s resilience. Elon Musk said this week that Starlink user terminals now automatically hand off to the satellite with the strongest link up to ten times per second, a change aimed at reducing service drop-outs caused by obstructions or severe weather.