Military Operations by China are Increasingly Appearing Indistinguishable from Regular Military Exercises, Claims Leader of USSF Pacific
AlertSound - AURORA, Co: General Anthony J. Mastalir, commander of Space Forces Indo-Pacific, raises concerns over China's increasing military exercises, which he believes are blurring the line between drills and potential invasion of Taiwan.
In an address at the AFA Warfare Symposium, Mastalir stated, "The way the People's Liberation Army exercises are being conducted now, it's becoming exceptionally challenging to distinguish between exercises and an impending invasion, and that's nothing short of design." He added that incorporation of space into these drills is becoming more noticeable, particularly the employment of anti-satellite (ASAT) weapons.
China's growing ASAT capabilities have been a primary concern for the Space Force as they continue to develop advanced methods, such as kinetic and nonkinetic tools, to target satellites in low-Earth and geosynchronous orbits. One of the most significant moves came in 2007, when China launched its first destructive test, later criticized for the debris it left in lower Earth orbit and the subsequent risk it posed for all space operations.
Mastalir noted a recent synchronization between China's posturing of counter-space weapons and military exercises, such as the counter-space weapons being readied at the same time as exercises unfold in the East China Sea. He explained, "We are starting to see more evidence as they build complexity, bringing more of those forces in."
Military leaders have raised alarms over China's increasingly aggressive drills around Taiwan. So far in 2025, Beijing has dispatched navy warships and spy balloons for "combat readiness patrols" around the island, with Taiwan's Ministry of National Defense reporting numerous incidents of Chinese military aircraft encircling the island. Adm. Samuel Paparo, head of the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, calls these actions "rehearsals for the forced unification of Taiwan with the mainland."
Integration of space capabilities into China's military strategy has intensified, with China possessing more than 1,000 satellites, a significant increase from a decade ago. Many of these satellites, notes Mastalir, are designed to track U.S. forces. China's strategic aim, he added, is to limit the ability of U.S. and allied forces to intervene in critical regional conflicts, particularly in the South China Sea and in relation to countries like Taiwan and the Philippines.
China also seeks to compete with SpaceX's Starlink in the satellite internet market, planning to construct a "mega-constellation" of over 600 satellites by 2025, eventually reaching a total of 14,000 satellites. Mastalir anticipates that this expansion will shift from communication satellites towards remote sensing capabilities.
Security risks are escalating due to the growing race in counter-space capabilities, with over 10,000 documented satellite interference events—many occurring in conflict zones—highlighting vulnerabilities in current RF-based systems. Concerns over China's advancements in space are being countered by the U.S. through the improvement of its own space defenses and capabilities.
- General Anthony J. Mastalir, commander of Space Forces Indo-Pacific, expresses concerns about China's military exercises, stating that it's difficult to differentiate between drills and potential invasion of Taiwan.
- Mastalir's address at the AFA Warfare Symposium mentioned the use of anti-satellite (ASAT) weapons in China's military exercises, which he finds increasingly prominent.
- China's growing ASAT capabilities are of primary concern for the Space Force, particularly its development of advanced methods (kinetic and nonkinetic tools) for targeting satellites in various orbits.
- Mastalir notes a correlation between China's posturing of counter-space weapons and military exercises, such as readying these weapons during the same time as exercises in the East China Sea.
- Military leaders are alarmed by China's increasingly aggressive drills around Taiwan, with Beijing dispatching navy warships and spy balloons for "combat readiness patrols" around the island.
- China's strategic aim, as pointed out by Mastalir, is to limit the ability of U.S. and allied forces to intervene in critical regional conflicts, particularly in the South China Sea and in relation to countries like Taiwan and the Philippines.
- Security risks are escalating due to the growing race in counter-space capabilities, with China planning to construct a "mega-constellation" of over 600 satellites by 2025, potentially shifting from communication satellites toward remote sensing capabilities.
