China’s Space Diplomacy: Egypt’s Satellite Facility Under the Spotlight
On the outskirts of Cairo, a new satellite lab was introduced as Africa’s first factory to produce homegrown satellites. However, a closer look inside reveals a different story. Much of the equipment arrives from Beijing, Chinese scientists oversee operations, and a Chinese flag adorns the wall, establishishing China’s space diplomacy. The first satellite assembled there—hailed as a milestone for African space technology—was mostly built in China and launched from a Chinese spaceport in December 2023.
This facility is part of China’s expanding space footprint in Africa, aimed at building strategic alliances and enhancing its global surveillance network. While China publicly promotes its space assistance to African nations, little is known about the long-term Chinese presence in these facilities and Beijing’s access to the data collected from these satellites, according to sources familiar with the projects.
Strategic Partnership Between China and Egypt
The Cairo satellite plant began operations in 2023 and is central to China’s space collaboration with Egypt. It sits within Space City, a high-tech complex being built near Egypt’s new administrative capital. Over the past two years, China has gifted Egypt advanced space infrastructure, including a space monitoring centre with two powerful telescopes and three Earth observation satellites. One of these satellites was assembled in Egypt, while the other two were fully built in China.
These satellites are capable of both civilian and military applications. According to multiple sources, one of the satellites has military-grade surveillance capabilities. The facility is part of broader cooperation between Chinese President Xi Jinping and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, who has deepened ties with China through projects under the Belt and Road Initiative.
Despite receiving substantial US military aid, Egypt is not alone in aligning with China’s space program. Beijing has established 23 space partnerships in Africa and has pledged $50 billion in loans and investments over the next three years to support African countries’ space ambitions.
A New Space Race in Africa
China’s growing space presence is creating a global network of ground stations and satellite data collection centres. Some of these capabilities can be used for military purposes, such as coordinating missile launches or tracking foreign military satellites. The Pentagon and US officials have raised concerns about the security risks posed by China’s space projects in Africa, though no specific evidence of intelligence-gathering has been provided.
China’s overseas ground stations, like those in Ethiopia and planned in Namibia, are part of a larger push to expand its influence. Meanwhile, the US has been slower to establish partnerships in Africa. NASA recently began building its first ground station on the continent in South Africa, but China’s head start has given it a significant advantage in the region.
Egypt’s Role in China’s Space Web
The Egyptian Space Agency (EgSA) insists it is neutral in the growing US-China space rivalry. Sherif Sedky, CEO of EgSA, described China’s contributions—including the $72 million MisrSat-2 satellite—as “donations” with no strings attached. MisrSat-2 was partially assembled in Cairo, with Chinese engineers working alongside their Egyptian counterparts. However, the data collected by this satellite is reportedly still monitored by China.
Sedky maintains that Egypt controls its own satellite data and remains open to cooperation with any country. “We are neutral; we deal with everybody,” Sedky said, stressing that Egypt has also received significant US military and economic assistance over the years.
The Cairo facility may soon host new collaborations. In August, Hong Kong-based USPACE Technology Group signed a partnership with EgSA to further develop satellite technology at Space City.
Telescopes and Future Ambitions
In addition to satellites, China and Egypt are working together on space-monitoring telescopes. Two powerful optical telescopes have been installed outside Cairo with the help of Chinese experts, providing crucial data on satellite movements in space. These telescopes can be used for scientific purposes but also have military applications, such as predicting the paths of foreign satellites and coordinating anti-satellite weapon systems.
Ethiopia is another key partner in China’s African space strategy. Since 2019, China has launched two Earth observation satellites for Ethiopia and funded the construction of a ground station to monitor floods, droughts, and other environmental issues. Like Egypt, Ethiopia claims neutrality in the US-China rivalry but acknowledges that the renewed space race could accelerate technological advancements.
with inputs from Reuters
