China’s Use of U.S. Satellite Communications Technology in the South China Sea Publication: China Brief Volume: 21 Issue: 3 February 11, 2021 06:13 PM Age: 1 month Image: Cover page of the contract that the Sansha City Comprehensive Law Enforcement Zhidui and Sansha Highlander signed in August 2017 (Image Source: Author’s records). Introduction In recent years, the maritime law enforcement (MLE) forces of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) have dominated the contested waters of the South China Sea (AMTI, December 4, 2020). While the exponential growth and increasing assertiveness of the China Coast Guard (CCG) have captured headlines, the evolving role of technology in China’s MLE operations has received less attention. New communications infrastructure and monitoring systems, for example, help Chinese MLE forces monitor and control contested maritime space in the South China Sea (CMSI, January 2021). These investments align with China’s broader pursuit of information superiority in the South China Sea, which involves building up electronic intelligence, counter-stealth radar, and other capabilities (JHU APL, July 2020).