[seatotree]

If China shoots down a SpaceX satellite, that is an act of war against the United States. China wouldn’t risk it. This is a great opportunity to break the great firewall and finally give the Chinese people access to unfiltered information.

[zpr]

Which might be seen as a provocation by the Chinese Government of the US to destabilize it's citizens.

[seatotree]

Not illegal under international law. We did this all the time to the Soviets. This is what Voice of America does today.

[btian]

China absolutely will. And if SpaceX were to beam internet over North Korea, then NK will shoot it down too.

[windexh8er]

Your comment implies they could successfully destroy said satellite. It might be a better distraction to tell NK there's one overhead, "leak" it's orbit, position, etc. and watch the fireworks month over month.

[freehunter]

I know NK has made some major advancements in their missile capabilities but shooting down a satellite is pretty advanced stuff... any indications that they're capable of doing what you claim they would do?

[mrep]

> If China shoots down a SpaceX satellite, that is an act of war against the United States.

These are not government satellites and china owns the airwaves over their nation. I highly doubt the US government would retaliate whatsoever against China if they shot down a satellite that illegally interacted with their airspace.

> China wouldn’t risk it. This is a great opportunity to break the great firewall and finally give the Chinese people access to unfiltered information.

Take this with a grain of salt since this is mostly based on what I have heard hearsay, but they can jam the signals and/or monitor who transmits back and go after the citizens using said signal (and china is not a country where you want to poke the government). I doubt this will have any effect on the great firewall.

[seatotree]

Airspace extends 12 miles. Satellites are governed by space law. It would be the same as sinking a commercial American ship in international waters.