On March 15, The Japan News published an article online that claimed Chinese remote-sensing satellites pass over Japan roughly once every 10 minutes, "monitoring" Japan's Self-Defense Forces and the U.S. military bases in the country.

At times, the report said, as many as four satellites may pass over the same target almost simultaneously.

The framing is telling. By highlighting figures such as "once every 10 minutes" and "four satellites flying overhead simultaneously," the report portrays Japan as a vulnerable party under constant surveillance and reinforces the so-called "China satellite threat" narrative. To readers unfamiliar with space technology — or those predisposed to view China through the lens of suspicion — such numbers can sound alarming and convincing.

In reality, it is a deliberate exaggeration of China's satellite activities. The passage of Chinese remote-sensing satellites over Japan is largely a natural consequence of orbital mechanics.

China operates a large number of remote-sensing satellites, many of which serve civilian purposes such as disaster prevention and mitigation, land and resource surveys, water conservancy and meteorological monitoring.

According to the report itself, the satellites in question primarily operate within the latitude band between 35 degrees north and 35 degrees south. Vast areas of southern China and the southeastern coastline — as well as parts of southern Japan — fall within this band and share similar latitudes.

Given the geographical proximity of China and Japan and the relatively low orbital inclinations of many observation satellites, it is inevitable that satellites designed to monitor China and the nearby seas will periodically pass over Japanese territory. Presenting such routine orbital movements as evidence of targeted surveillance is both inaccurate and technically unsound.

Ironically, while expressing concern about Chinese satellites flying overhead "every 10 minutes," Japan itself is building a satellite constellation capable of observing the entire world at roughly the same frequency.

The Institute for Q-shu Pioneers of Space, Inc. plans to establish a constellation of 36 synthetic aperture radar satellites by 2027, which would enable observations of any location on Earth approximately every 10 minutes.

According to reports by outlets such as Intelligence Online, the project is already supplying reconnaissance imagery to Japan's Ministry of Defense and has reportedly provided intelligence support to Ukraine, becoming involved in the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

In recent years, Japan is increasingly promoting the militarization of space, often citing perceived threats from neighboring countries as justification for expanding its capabilities in the space domain.

In June 2020, Japan announced plans to strengthen its space defense capacity by improving missile detection and tracking capabilities and launching multiple satellites to rapidly assess missile activities in surrounding regions.

In July 2025, Japan released its first set of guidelines aimed at strengthening its outer-space defense posture, citing the need to counter potential "killer satellite" threats and proposing the introduction of so-called "bodyguard satellites" to protect its space assets.

Against this backdrop, Japan's latest claims about Chinese remote-sensing satellites may also serve a broader purpose: creating political momentum for further militarization of space.

The global media has reported that Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi wants to join the U.S.' "Golden Dome" program. The initiative reportedly involves deploying weapons in outer space for missions such as missile interception.

As the world's second-largest space power by satellite count, China has consistently advocated the peaceful use of outer space and promoted international cooperation in the development of space technologies.

If Japan has a clear conscience, there is no need to be alarmed by a Chinese remote-sensing satellite operating normally in orbit. But if Tokyo is determined to push forward a new form of militarism in space, it will inevitably invite greater scrutiny from the international community.