Chinese authorities have issued a penalty to an unidentified foreign-flagged vessel after discovering it was using Starlink satellite internet while operating inside China’s territorial waters, according to a report.

The case surfaced during a port inspection in Ningbo, Zhejiang province. Ningbo Daily said maritime enforcement officers noticed a “micro rectangular antenna” mounted on the vessel’s upper deck.

China’s Ningbo Maritime Safety Administration said the device did not match standard maritime safety communications equipment, the report added.

Investigators later determined the hardware was a low-Earth-orbit satellite communications terminal made by an overseas company. The report also said the vessel kept transmitting data after it entered Chinese territorial waters.

The report did not name the service, but photos published alongside the coverage appeared to show a Starlink terminal. Starlink is operated by SpaceX.

Local media described the incident as the first completed enforcement action in China involving unauthorised use of low-Earth-orbit satellite communications in its waters.

Source: South China Morning Post