Chang Guang Satellite Technology has denied US State Department claims that it is supplying Houthi rebels with high-resolution satellite data, which helps the group pinpoint and potentially attack US warships and other allied shipping in the Red Sea.
“We can confirm the reporting that Chang Guang Satellite Technology is directly supporting Iran-backed Houthi terrorist attacks on US interests,” said US State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce on April 17, 2025.
Chang Guang Satellite Technology operates the Jilin-1 satellite constellation, which generates high-resolution Earth observation data.
A Chang Guang statement provided to the Global Times, a daily tabloid controlled by the Chinese Communist Party, called the allegation, “completely fabricated and maliciously slanderous.”
“In our global operations, we strictly comply with relevant laws, regulations, and industry standards both in China and internationally,” the company’s statement reads.
Satellite imagery increases Houthi capabilities
The Iran-backed Houthis have attacked over 100 vessels in the Red Sea since 2023 in response to Israel launching a war against Hamas. US President Donald Trump retaliated and began a major military offensive against the Houthis in March. US air strikes in Yemen’s capital, Sana’a, continued over the Easter weekend.
Chang Guang Satellite Technology says its satellite imagery supports agriculture, forestry, environmental protection, and finance sectors. Jilin-1 is China’s largest commercial satellite constellation, with around 130 satellites in orbit. The company has close ties to the Chinese Government and People’s Liberation Army.
The constellation includes optical, hyperspectral, and video satellites that can capture images with up to a half-metre resolution. The Houthis, which the US Government designates a terrorist group, are known to use drones to assist in real-time surveillance and reconnaissance of vessels moving through the Red Sea. However, integrating high-resolution satellite imagery into its operations is a significant capability upgrade.
The US Government believes the process likely involves intermediaries, possibly Iranian operatives, who analyse the imagery and relay coordinates to Houthi forces.
“The United States will not tolerate anyone providing support to foreign terrorist organizations, such as the Houthis,” said Bruce.
Chinese spokesperson not familiar with specifics
During an April 18 media briefing, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said he was “not familiar with the specifics” of the allegations. “Since the situation in the Red Sea escalated, China has been playing a positive role to ease tensions,” he said.
China is rapidly increasing the number of Earth observation and communication satellites in orbit in a bid to counterbalance the US constellations, particularly Starlink. While still lagging behind the US, Chinese satellite companies are filing plans to eventually have mega-10000 plus constellations in orbit in a relatively short space of time.
Last week, China confirmed that it had successfully established the world’s first three-satellite constellation on the distant retrograde orbit in the Earth-moon region of space, providing a highly efficient communication and navigation network.
Also last week, US Federal Communications Commission chairperson Brendan Carr acknowledged the rise of Chinese satellite capabilities. He said non-US satellite data users should choose between US and Chinese providers, adding that as much as they may dislike Elon Musk, the Chinese Communist Party was far worse.
