How Chinese satellites have boosted Iran’s war effort
Chinese satellites have filled the void left by American images going dark, boosting Iran's war effort with high-resolution photos. China's Earth-observation capabilities have advanced dramatically, ending Western monopoly on advanced space images.
China has indirectly supported Iran's war effort through its advanced satellite imaging capabilities. American firms had restricted access to high-resolution images under pressure from the Trump administration, but Chinese alternatives filled the void. Chinese satellite firms, such as China Siwei and Chang Guang Satellite Technology, have released high-resolution photos of the Middle East, which have been used by Iran's Revolutionary Guards. China's constellations have grown rapidly, with over 640 remote-sensing satellites in orbit, rivaling America's capabilities. The Jilin-1 constellation, operated by CGST, plans to image any spot on Earth every ten minutes. Chinese commercial satellites are now on par with American peers in terms of image quality and cadence.
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