#China's government says its Tiangong space station has twice had to manoeuvre to avoid collision with one of Elon Musk's satellites, avoiding potentially catastrophic space crashes. For Ministry Spokesman Zhao Lijian said the #US had "posed a serious threat to astronauts' lives"
#Beijing sent a note to the United Nations saying that signatories to the Outer Space Treaty are also responsible for any private actors in their countries. Hence the government of #China has blamed the government of the #USA for the actions of Musk's Space X company.
Some nationalists on #China's social media have called for a boycott of Musk's Tesla. His company Space X -
- which operates the subsidiary Starlink that has placed thousands of satellites into space for future internet access - is yet to comment.
BTW scientists and engineers say that a major collision between a satellite and #China's new space station could result in the deaths of all onboard. There have already been astronauts on the space station preparing for it go into full operation next year.
Interesting that the Chinese Government has so publicly attacked an Elon Musk company, given that Tesla had had quite a presence in #China selling 10s of thousands of vehicles here each month. #USA
Now that it's morning on the east coast of the #USA we may get a response soon from #Washington. #China #Beijing #US #ElonMusk #Tiangong
For those asking if this might have something to do with ElonMusk's satellites potentially providing open internet for #China, I'm assuming no. I'm no expert but there'll still have to be ground stations?(Experts: correct?) For China delivery they'd be in China & controllable.
Naturally there would also be practical political problems for Elon Musk, in terms of operating his other businesses in #China, if he started providing open internet here but - at the moment - I'm just talking about the blockability of this technology by China's censors.

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More from @StephenMcDonell

29 Dec
#Xian #COVID19 outbreak update. Official numbers are showing no sign yet of a downward curve in infection numbers in the city. In recent weeks, the official figures have recorded around a thousand infections with symptoms which must mean no easing up on the lockdown there yet?
Today another 155 new local #COVID19 infections with symptoms in #China’s Shaanxi Province. This takes the official total, since 9th of December, to 1117 in #Xian. No easing of a strict lockdown in that northern Chinese city yet with those numbers.
The #Xian lockdown has also become more strict in recent days. Officials have stopped letting 1 person from each household leaving to buy supplies every 2 days. Because the announcement came quickly people are all over social media there saying they’re desperately short of food.
Read 4 tweets
29 Dec
#HongKong's Christmas crackdown continues... #China 2021 bbc.com/news/world-asi…
Statement from the Foreign Correspondents’ Club of #HongKong regarding the latest round of reporters being arrested in that city: fcchk.org/fcc-statement-…
#HongKong's Stand News has now announced that it will cease operating. #China
Read 5 tweets
21 Nov
#Pengshuai has turned up at a junior tennis event in #China this morning. Chinese officials now going to great lengths to show that she’s OK after being censored for accusing senior Party leader #ZhangGaoli of sexual assault. Has there been a deal done to secure her cooperation?
The photos of this event have popped up on the Party’s media outlets today but mostly not mentioning her by name. For foreign consumption it’s look #PengShuai is not in detention! For #China’s audience it’s Peng who? What? Look over there!
One potential solution for the Party could be to throw #ZhangGaoli under the bus politically? Party members have been dismissed/disciplined on grounds of morality. However, he’s been amongst the most senior members of government here and to take him down like this would be huge.
Read 4 tweets
20 Nov
In #China the Party’s media has now released videos purportedly showing #PengShuai at a restaurant. Again many questions being asked: Was this staged? Who gave the video to the Global Times? Who took it?
A question regarding the second clip released by the Party’s media said to be of #Pengshui and friends at a restaurant: If a friend took this video why would they film a notice on the door showing the month ‘proof of life’ style? If a friend didn’t film it who did? #China
Why is none of this being posted on #Weibo? Why are #PengShuai’s original claims regarding sexual assault and #ZhangGaoli being censored in #China? Why is Global Times Editor @HuXijin_GT posting this stuff on Twitter but not having any of it reported in his newspaper?
Read 5 tweets
17 Nov
Why is the cursor visible in this screenshot? Who’s taken that screenshot and when? Who sent it? #China #PengShuai #ZhangGaoli
Also people will be analysing the tone of this language to see if it really sounds like it is being written by someone who is alright. #China #PengShuai #ZhangGaoli
If #PengShuai has written to Steve Simon, the WTA chairman, why does it begin “Hello everyone...”?
Read 21 tweets
7 Nov
This week there is a boring sounding high-level political meeting in #Beijing which could actually be quite significant in terms of power politics in #China. The annual "plenum" session with hundreds of members of the Central Committee will meet behind closed doors. Crucially...
The session may act to sure up Xi Jinping's grip on power, cement his legacy and provide a justification for #China's current leader to move into a historic third, 5-year, term at the Party Congress in October next year.
The Plenum will start on Monday behind closed doors at the Great Hall of the People. Very little has been announced about what's on the table away from the public glare except that they'll discuss “important achievements & historical experiences of the Party”. Sounds dull but...
Read 18 tweets

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