Barran Press
U.S. officials stated Thursday that a Chinese satellite company with ties to the Chinese military, Chang Guang Satellite Technology Co. (CGSTL), is providing the Iran-backed Houthis with imagery used to target U.S. and international vessels in the Red Sea.
Officials reported that CGSTL, linked to the People’s Liberation Army, has supplied satellite intelligence to the Houthis, a designated terrorist group. The Trump administration had reportedly issued repeated warnings to Beijing regarding CGSTL’s activities.
U.S. State Department sources informed the Financial Times that Washington has repeatedly raised this issue with China, urging them to stop the company’s support for the Houthis. One official described China’s “tacit backing” and CGSTL’s actions as contradicting Beijing’s claims of promoting peace, adding that China has “ignored” previous warnings and should seriously consider future ties with the firm.
This disclosure occurs amidst rising U.S.-China trade tensions, following President Trump’s recent tariff increase on Chinese imports to 145%. CGSTL was previously sanctioned in 2023 for providing satellite imagery to Russia’s Wagner Group in support of the Ukraine invasion. Established in 2014 as a joint venture in Changchun, CGSTL has been under scrutiny for its international activities. The U.S. has intensified airstrikes against Houthi targets since March 15 in response to their attacks on international shipping, which began in October 2024.